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MILLCREEK — A Unified police officer trying to protect others from being injured by a woman driving recklessly was rammed by the fleeing woman Thursday, police say.
Officer Terry McQueen was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and later released. The woman accused of hitting him, Alysia LeFevre, 24, of Taylorsville, remained hospitalized Friday with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. She was expected to be booked into the Salt Lake County Jail upon her release from the hospital.
The incident began about 10:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Mark's Hospital when two Unified police officers working security went outside to check on a woman who was parked in the emergency driveway area and revving her engine, said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce.
The woman appeared to be "irate" about something, according to Royce, and told officers, "I'm ready to die for this cause."
Investigators did not know Friday what cause the woman was referring to or if she had any connection to the hospital.
Upon hearing the statement, one officer pulled out his gun and the other displayed a Taser and ordered the woman to get out, Royce said. Instead, she put the vehicle in reverse and exited the hospital parking lot onto 3900 South heading west.
Royce said the woman drove at a high rate of speed with no lights on.
"She was very dangerous," he said.
At 3900 South and 900 East, McQueen parked his Unified police pickup truck in the middle of the intersection with his red and blue lights flashing to try and block LeFevre from proceeding, and to prevent other motorists from being hit.
LeFevre rammed the police vehicle on the rear driver's side, hitting it with such force that it spun the truck around, police said. She was then taken into custody.
Royce said investigators were looking at impairment being a possible factor in the incident.
