Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — When West Valley paramedic Alek House was called to respond to a rollover in Salt Lake City on Friday, the last thing he expected to see was his own trailer involved in the crash.
"As we passed the scene, I noticed that my flatbed trailer, my car hauler, was involved in the accident and nobody had permission to have it," he said. "(I was) extremely surprised. It's very random to go on a rollover accident and your property is involved and you don't know anybody on scene at all."
Just after 7 a.m. Friday, a man driving a pickup truck and hauling a flatbed trailer was traveling on 5600 West and approaching state Route 201, when he allegedly failed to pay attention to the traffic in front of him.
Salt Lake Police Sgt. Jeff Webb said the man crashed into a couple of vehicles, causing his truck to roll onto its side. A total of four vehicles were involved. No serious injuries were reported.
After the crash, witnesses said the driver attempted to flee.
"The driver of the vehicle that caused the accident, he did appear to try and leave the scene," Webb said.
Witnesses detained the man until police arrived. Officers said the man tried to tell the crowd things like, "Did you grab the driver?" But witnesses told police he was the only person in the vehicle.
As detectives investigated the accident, they discovered the pickup truck had been reported stolen out of Salt Lake City. The man was also in possession of two knives, as well as other people's credit cards and driver's licenses.
(I was) extremely surprised. It's very random to go on a rollover accident and your property is involved and you don't know anybody on scene at all.
–Alek House
Tayne Pendleton, 41, was arrested for investigation of possession of a stolen trailer, identity fraud, negligent collision and carrying a concealed weapon.
Paramedics were called to the scene as a precaution. When House and his partner arrived, they were told they were no longer needed. House was about to drive away when he looked out the window and noticed the trailer involved in the accident looked like his.
"I told my partner to pull over," he said.
House last saw his trailer on Sunday and a friend whom he shares it with last saw it on Monday. Both thought the other was using it, he said.
He estimated the damage to his trailer to be about $1,000. But even with the damage, "I'd rather have the trailer back than have it not back," he said.
Pendleton has a lengthy criminal history, according to Utah court records, dating back to 1991, including multiple convictions for burglary and fleeing.
Contributing: Brianna Bodily
