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SALT LAKE CITY — A crash on I-80 Saturday morning left two men and one woman dead and another man in critical condition following a brief chase from Salt Lake International Airport.
The chase began just after 5 a.m. at the airport when a car was observed speeding while leaving the parking garage. An airport officer pursued the car onto I-80, but was told to call off the chase, according to Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Jeff Nigbur.
Just a couple of minutes later, as the officer was turning to go back to the airport, he noticed a cloud of dust. When he went to see what it was, he found the car upside down in some weeds.
The airport officer proceeded with his gun drawn and called for backup. Another responding officer and several troopers approached the vehicle with guns drawn. Upon approaching the car, the officers said it was apparent that three occupants were dead, Nigbur said.
The driver had pulled himself out and was found nearby in the reeds, Nigbur said.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Larry Mower said the vehicle had rolled several times before landing on its roof in the weeds off of the side of I-80.
"It looks like the person was on I-80 and then attempted to take the exit at the last second and couldn’t manipulate the turn," Mower said.
The driver was transported to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition with severe head injuries.
"I was told there was a warrant on somebody in the vehicle. I believe it was the driver, but I haven't confirmed that and I don't know what the warrant was for," Mower said.
Neither the names of the deceased passengers — two males and one female — nor that of the injured driver were released by UHP Saturday afternoon.
The I-215 collector ramp from I-80 was closed all morning as the UHP investigated the scene. The ramp was re-opened at 3 p.m.
Contributing: Wendy Leonard
