A Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) sergeant is being commended for his quick thinking and bravery after deliberately crashing head-on into a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on I-80 in Tooele County. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, near Lake Point.
Upon receiving an alert from emergency dispatchers about the wrong-way driver, a pickup truck pulling a trailer traveling east in the westbound lanes, troopers in the area were instructed to be vigilant. The UHP sergeant, who was heading west on I-80, spotted the pickup and promptly switched on his overhead emergency lights. He then reduced his speed and stayed in the path of the oncoming vehicle, ultimately causing the collision.
Simultaneously, the trooper’s car was struck from behind by another vehicle. Following the incident, both the trooper and the pickup truck driver were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The freeway was closed for about an hour as emergency crews responded to the scene.
The UHP sergeant, a seasoned officer, was recovering at home as of Wednesday. Meanwhile, the 62-year-old pickup driver sustained minor injuries. The Tooele County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the cause of the driver’s wrong-way navigation, and as of Wednesday, no arrests or charges had been made.