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SALT LAKE CITY — A man is in the hospital and charged with multiple felonies after fleeing from police in a stolen car and colliding with a power pole Sunday morning, police said.
At approximately 6:20 a.m. Sunday, a Unified Police officer identified a stolen vehicle making an illegal left turn to travel northbound on 2200 West at about 4570 South in Taylorsville, according to Lt. Justin Hoyal of Unified Police Department. The officer attempted to pull over the driver of the vehicle, who initially acted normally before fleeing, Hoyal said.
Because the vehicle was stolen and the officer could see the occupant driving recklessly, he did not initiate a chase, according to Hoyal. The officer then saw sparks in the distance and went to their location to discover that the driver had crashed into a power pole.
The driver, identified as Casey James Ortez, 28, was transported to a hospital in serious condition. He has been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and fleeing from police, Hoyal said.
Approximately 680 customers in the area are without power as a result of the collision with the power pole, according to Hoyal. Crews are on site and repairs are underway, and it is estimated that power will be restored to the area by 4 p.m. local time.
