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LOGAN — A Logan man is in jail, booked for driving under the influence three times in less than 48 hours. But those weren't the only traffic incidents he was involved in during that time period.
Just before his first DUI, Daniel Kropf was involved in an auto pedestrian accident that seriously injured another man.
Five days after the accident, Joe White is still in the hospital with a long road ahead of him. His foot is broken in more than 30 places. He has multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung, fractured shoulder — and the list of injuries goes on.
"He was just released from intensive care earlier today, but he's still in serious condition at Intermountain Medical Center," Dustin Lance, White's attorney, said Friday.
White was pinned against a dumpster by a trailer outside of the Maverick Gas Station where he works. It all seemed like a terrible accident, until his attorney learned what the driver responsible — Kropf — did during the next 48 hours.
"When they told me there was not only one, two but three DUIs, I was shocked," Lance said. "I've never seen anybody who has a worse driving record in my career."
The accident happened just after 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 8. A few hours later, a little before midnight, the driver, Daniel Kropf, was arrested in another part of town for driving under the influence of drugs. His wife and child were in the vehicle.
Kropf posted bail and was released in the middle of the night. The next day around 6 p.m., he was busted again for DUI in the Logan Super 8 Motel parking lot. Again, he posted bail and was released.
The next day, July 10, at 6:30pm, Kropf was arrested a third time for driving under the influence.
That's four incidents in less than three days. Logan Assistant Police Chief Jeff Curtis said the whole situation is infuriating.
"It is frustrating, as a police officer of course, to have this guy go out and repeat offend that way," Curtis said.
Police are investigating whether drugs were involved in the accident that critically injured Joe White.
White's attorney said the former semi-pro baseball player's injuries are so severe, he will likely never be able to run again.
As for Kropf's, court records show he has more than two dozen past traffic violations. He is also is in the middle of a divorce, where he is ordered by a court to take drug tests.
Maverick Inc., the company White works for, has put together a fund to help pay for his medical bills. You can make a donation at any Maverick gas station.
