Inattentive driver hits cars at police station, flees

A 29-year-old man was cited and had his car impounded Tuesday afternoon after poor driving habits and poor judgment led to a series of violations.

The man was backing his car out of Salt Lake police's Public Safety Building, 315 East 200 South, just before 1:30 p.m. But while backing up, he was talking on a cell phone and writing something on a note pad at the same time, said Salt Lake police detective Jeff Bedard.

He struck two parked vehicles including a police car. But rather than stop, the man kept driving. Another officer witnessed what happened, however, and radioed to other detectives to be on the lookout for the man.

He was stopped a short time later and cited for two counts of hit and run. He adamantly tried to explain to police, however, that his brakes were faulty, Bedard said. Because the man claimed his brakes were so bad, officers had his car impounded for faulty equipment.