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LEHI — A Lehi man who police say was driving on a suspended license was only allowed to operate a vehicle with an interlock device has been arrested and accused of causing a six-car crash on the Timpanogos Highway in September.
William Koontz, 34, was booked into the Utah County Jail Thursday for investigation of multiple counts of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in serious injury, driving with an altered license plate, driving on a suspended license, DUI third offense, and drug possession.
About 6 p.m. on Sept. 24, Koontz rear-ended another vehicle at the intersection of the Timpanogos Highway and Center Street, setting off a chain-reaction accident involving six vehicles, according to a police booking affidavit.
When officers questioned Koontz, they suspected possible impairment "as they observed William was nodding off and his speech was slurred," the affidavit states.
"William stated that as he approached the red light at Center Street, his sandal got stuck underneath his brake pedal and that was why he was unable to stop before he rear-ended (the second) vehicle, which resulted in several other vehicles being damaged and occupants" being taken by medical helicopter or ambulance to hospitals, the affidavit states. "The injuries sustained in the traffic crash were serious in nature."
Investigators learned that the vehicle Koontz was driving was not registered or insured and a Sharpie had been used to change the month on the registration tag from a "5" to an "8," according to the affidavit.
"A records check of William's driver's license showed it had been suspended for an interlock device. It should also be noted that the vehicle he was operating at the time of the collision did not have an interlock device installed in it," police noted in the arrest report.
Toxicology tests revealed "amphetamine and opiates in his blood at the time of the collision," the affidavit alleges.
