Police briefs

Police officer injured in Taylorsville crash

TAYLORSVILLE — A collision between an unmarked police car and an SUV caused heavy damage to both vehicles and sent one of the drivers to the hospital with minor injuries.

Just before 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, an SUV making a turn at the intersection of 1300 West and 3900 South broadsided an unmarked Taylorsville police car on the driver's side.

The officer was sent to a local hospital for observation. The driver of the SUV also received minor injuries. Both vehicles were heavily damaged.

West Valley police will investigate the accident.

— Pat Reavy

Man critically injured in mo-ped, car crash

A 45-year-old man was in critical condition Tuesday after hitting a car while riding his mo-ped to work.

About 8:45 a.m., the man was traveling on 700 East when a car pulled out in front of him near 4200 South, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson. Unable to stop in time, the mo-ped hit the side fender of the car, flipping the victim over the hood and tossing him 15 feet on the other side of the car.

Although the man suffered a broken leg and other internal injuries, investigators believe wearing a helmet may have saved his life.

"He didn't lose consciousness," Hutson said.

Ironically, the accident happened just 100 yards away from the office of an attorney who deals in injury accidents and a sign that says, "Save a life, buy a helmet."

The department's Major Accident Team was investigating the incident. Citations against the driver were pending the outcome of toxicology tests, Hutson said. However, there were no obvious signs of impairment.

— Pat Reavy

2nd trial in slaying is set for October

WEST JORDAN — Parley Jeffs Dutson's new attorney isn't ready to defend him, so the previously convicted man will have to wait several months before he can be tried for murder a second time.

Dutson was convicted last year of sexually assaulting and killing his girlfriend, both first-degree felonies, while he was high at a party. But a court overturned his conviction after it was discovered that a juror had been raped when she was a teenager and did not disclose that during the jury vetting. Judge Royal I. Hansen determined that her history compromised the integrity of the jury's decision, so Dutson must be tried again.