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SALT LAKE CITY -- Police say a man driving with his two young children in the car crashed because he was under the influence of drugs. Luckily, no one was injured in the accident at 900 West and 600 North Wednesday afternoon.
When Salt Lake City police officers arrived on the scene around 12:30 p.m. the driver, 41-year-old Richard Ferguson, was still in his car, apparently slumped over the wheel. His two young children were strapped into a car seat and a seat belt.
Officers say he must have lost control of the car and slammed into a small tree. Detectives are thankful he didn't hit a bigger tree because the kids could have sustained injuries.
Police say the man admitted to being impaired on drugs, but they are waiting to get the blood tests back.
Ferguson was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of DUI metabolite, meaning drugs were in his system. He was also driving with a suspended license and had several warrants out for his arrest.
The Department of Child and Family Services came out to see if the children were in safe hands. Police say someone in the family, most likely the mother, will take care of the kids.
Investigators say it could be days or weeks before they get the toxicology tests back from the lab.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
