Police say wrong-way driver causes two accidents on I-15

MURRAY — Police say a wrong-way driver caused confusion on I-80 and I-15 Friday morning, triggering two minor accidents before being stopped by the Utah Highway Patrol.

Police said they witnessed the driver of a Jeep Cherokee smoking a glass pipe during a pursuit that lasted about 10 minutes.

A UHP trooper spotted the vehicle heading west on eastbound I-80 just after 10:30 a.m. and attempted to slow traffic. The man maneuvered past the trooper and drove the wrong way on the ramp to northbound I-15, where he headed south, police said.

The wrong-way driver didn't hit any oncoming vehicles, but drivers on I-15 attempting to avoid him were caught in accidents near 3100 South and 3300 South, one of which resulted in minor injuries.

Troopers tried unsuccessfully to stop the Jeep as it exited I-15 using the northbound on-ramp at 4500 South. The driver then got back on I-15, headed south in the southbound lanes with UHP in pursuit, police said.

UHP troopers followed the Jeep until it exited at 5300 South, where they were able to pin the vehicle against a power pole and take the man into custody. His name was not released Friday.

— McKenzie Romero, Twitter: @McKenzieRomero