Salt Lake police seize vehicle believed to be involved in high-speed chase

KEARNS — Unified Police have seized a vehicle believed to be involved in a high-speed chase, but authorities are still seeking the driver, who they say is a fugitive and could be armed.

John Samora, 21, is the alleged driver of a 1990 Lincoln Towncar officers saw Saturday at about 2:48 a.m. near 5400 South and 4015 West. The driver of the vehicle matched Samora's description and tried to lose officers by pulling into a parking lot near 4100 West 5400 S.

The driver parked the vehicle in the parking lot but pulled out when officers approached on foot, trying to strike them with his vehicle. An officer fired at shot at the driver. Samora is a wanted fugitive who is known to be armed, Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal said.

Officers from the Taylorsville Police Department saw the vehicle fleeing the area and attempted to stop it, but it fled and went north on Bangerter Highway to state Route 201. A high-speed chase reached speeds as high as 70 miles per hour, and the vehicle was driving through red lights when officers called off the chase to protect the public.

Around 10 p.m. Saturday, Salt Lake City police located the vehicle at 853 N. 900 West. It had been abandoned, and officers seized it as evidence. Officers are asking anyone with information about Samora's location to call the Unified Police Department at 801-743-7000.

— Hunter Schwarz