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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who was driving the wrong way on the freeway Friday was using drugs during the ensuing chase, Utah Highway Patrol reports.
At 10:26 a.m., UHP received a call about a silver Jeep Cherokee heading westbound on eastbound I-80 near 700 East. A trooper on eastbound I-80 saw the motorist, identified as 52-year-old Kirtley Greene of Taylorsville, driving toward him. The trooper attempted to slow traffic as Greene drove past him and onto northbound I-15, heading southbound.
Another trooper travelling northbound attempted to slow motorists on I-15 upon Greene's entry to the freeway. At 3100 South, motorists took evasive action from Greene's vehicle, causing a crash. One person involved sustained minor injuries.
At 3300 South, another crash occurred for the same reasons. No injuries were reported.
Two troopers began pursuing Greene's vehicle just as he turned off the 4500 South northbound on-ramp driving south. At the bottom of the ramp, the lead trooper attempted a PIT maneuver, quickly turning the squad car perpendicular to the lanes, while the second trooper attempted to box the suspect in the ramp.
Greene escaped the attempt, drove through the intersection at 4500 South and got back onto I-15, this time travelling on southbound I-15 in the correct direction. Troopers pursued him to 5300 South, where he exited and headed west for 60 feet, where the trooper performed another PIT maneuver and the second trooper collided his car into Greene's, pinning it against a power pole.
Troopers said they could see Greene smoking from a glass pipe during the pursuit and they believed he was smoking meth.
Greene was then taken into custody at 10:36 a.m.
