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MOAB — A man is recovering in the hospital after allegedly stealing a BMW in Texas and leading police in Utah on a high-speed chase Saturday morning.
Around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Utah Highway Patrol trooper Kerry Ball attempted to pull over a white BMW traveling at high speeds headed eastbound on Interstate 70 near Thompson, Grand County, according to the Department of Public Safety.
The driver of the vehicle sped away before the officer could stop, upon which the officer pursued the BMW again. The BMW later stopped to drop off a female passenger before fleeing again. The female passenger was transported to Moab for questioning.
Officers pursued the BMW from I-70 to state Route 128, setting up spikes in an attempt to stop the car, the DPS said, but the driver of the vehicle avoided the spikes and turned onto a county road toward the La Sal Mountains before officers lost contact.
An officer with the State Parks later spotted the BMW turning around at the base of the La Sal Mountains, the DPS said. Ball and Grand County Deputy Zane Lammert attempted to lay spikes to stop the vehicle.
The BMW stopped before approaching Ball and Lammert and the driver eventually rammed the vehicle into Lammert’s vehicle, knocking the driver of the BMW unconscious.
The driver of the BMW was flown by AirMed to Utah Regional Medical Center and officer Lammert, who suffered minor injuries, was transported to Moab Regional Hospital as a precaution.
Officers learned the BMW was stolen out of Texas, with a stolen Arizona license plate inside the vehicle, according to the DPS. Officers also found several credit cards and other items not described at this time.
More information will be posted when it’s available.
