UHP trooper describes how he shielded construction workers from alleged drunk driver

MURRAY — Thanks to a state trooper's fast thinking, construction workers made it home safely to their families earlier this month.

On April 2, in the wee hours of the morning, Lt. Jacob Cox with Utah Highway Patrol was on duty watching construction workers' backs while they were working on Interstate 15.

"I was just watching traffic that's coming in Davis County, in Layton, right next to Antelope Drive," said Cox. One lane was open to traffic while three lanes were closed for the construction crew working on the freeway.

"As they're sitting in those right three lanes working, I see a car that came into the closed lanes," said Cox.

At first glance, he thought it was a fellow construction worker. Quickly realizing it wasn't, he turned on his lights overhead and started to drive.

"I drive towards the car. They swerve to go around me, and so I move to cut them off again. Then the driver swerves to go around me again," said Cox. He used his own trooper vehicle to stop the other car, a suspected drunk driver, who Cox estimates was driving anywhere from 50 to 55 mph.

The Utah Highway Patrol honored Cox earlier this week for his quick thinking.

"They had no protection. They had no cover. I know one person would have been hit. He was right in the path. I don't know if he would have looked up before impact or not," said Cox.

Jesse Meldrum, director of health and safety for Wadsworth Construction, said one of his workers on the job that night had been in a close call last year while on the job.

"(Cox) certainly saved some lives," said Meldrum.

The construction crew, while physically OK, is taking things day by day.

"They're obviously shaken up. It takes a toll when you're out there and you see something like that happen and realize the reality of a few feet more and it could have been us," said Meldrum.

Cox said it comes down to staying alert and having a plan in place.

"Plan ahead, because if you're going to go out and drink — whether at a friend's house or a bar — plan ahead," said Cox.

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