Man reverses stolen car into UHP vehicle, flees

A man in a stolen sport utility vehicle reversed it and crashed into a Utah Highway Patrol trooper who was pulling him over.

At 5:40 a.m. Friday, the trooper initiated a traffic stop near 9400 South on I-15's northbound side.

But the man failed to pull over immediately, said UHP Sgt. Stephen Manful.

When the driver did pull over near 7200 South, he went to the emergency lane on the left side, and once he came to a stop with the trooper behind him, he put the SUV in reverse.

The SUV hit the front of the trooper's car, causing at least $2,500 damage, Manful said.

The SUV took off again, and the trooper gave chase past 5300 South, where the SUV's tires were spiked, to 3700 South, where the driver gave up and pulled over.

Three people were arrested, but only two of them were booked into jail. The driver was booked for investigation of speeding, aggravated assault on a peace officer, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless endangerment of an unborn child and possession of a stolen vehicle.

The other man was booked for investigation of stealing the SUV in Colorado.