Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — A man who police say was driving nearly 100 mph in a posted 25 mph zone lost control of his vehicle, causing it go airborne and roll down an embankment — resulting in life-threatening injuries to his passenger — has been criminally charged.
Zachary Alan Ingalls, 28, of Orem, was charged Tuesday in 4th District Court with operating a vehicle negligently causing serious injury, a third-degree felony.
On Jan. 19, Ingalls was driving his Corvette between 90 mph to 100 mph on Foothill Drive in Provo, according to charging documents. The speed limit in that area is 25 mph.
Near Canyon Road, as Ingalls attempted to pass another car, he clipped the other vehicle's driver-side mirror and front fender, the charges state.
"This caused his vehicle to veer across the center lane, across eastbound traffic lanes and skid along the top of a concrete barrier until his vehicle became airborne. When the vehicle hit the ground, it began to roll down the hillside," charging documents state.
Data collected from the vehicle after the crash indicated that the Corvette was going 92 mph just prior to the airbags deploying, the charges state.
Ingalls was ejected from the vehicle and amazingly suffered only minor injuries. A 25-year-old woman in the passenger seat, however, "remained seat belted into the vehicle as the car was launched off a 30-foot retaining wall and came to rest in the northbound lane of University Avenue," according to the charges.
The vehicle briefly caught fire, according to court documents. Bystanders were able to get the woman out of the car and call 911.
The woman suffered life-threatening injuries. In addition to severe head injuries, a broken pelvis and broken arm, the crash "rendered her non-verbal," the charges state. According to a search warrant affidavit served in March, the woman "is still alive but is in a long-term care facility where she will remain for an undetermined time. She has very minimal bodily functions and requires round-the-clock professional care."
Ingalls was found to have levels of THC in his blood at the time of the crash that "indicates either recent use or chronic daily use of marijuana," the warrant states.
