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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake police officer is lucky to be uninjured after being partially dragged for about 10 feet by a fleeing pickup truck Wednesday evening, police said.
The incident occurred near 550 W. 100 South around 6:45 p.m. when the officer approached the truck because the driver appeared to be acting suspiciously and possibly prowling for burglar opportunities, said Salt Lake City Police Lt. Martin Kaufmann.
The officer was talking to the man driving the vehicle just outside the driver's side door, which was open, Kaufmann said. That's when the man reportedly reversed quickly, hitting the officer, who was partially dragged while trying keeping her feet on the ground for roughly 10 feet.
The driver then sped away from the area, Kaufmann said. He remained on the loose Wednesday night. He is described as white and in his early 30s and was reportedly driving a two-toned truck. No other description of the man or his vehicle was immediately available.
The officer is sore, but "medically she's OK," Kaufmann said.
"Anytime an officer is injured at work, it's extremely serious, and this could have been a lot worse than it was," he said. "Fortunately for the officer, she was able to get out of the way just in time or … it could have been a lot worse."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Salt Lake police at 801-799-3000.
Contributing: Paul Nelson
