Drunken driver was doing doughnuts on I-80, going wrong way in snowstorm, UHP says

Cars drive on State Street in Salt Lake City during a winter storm on Wednesday. Utah Highway Patrol troopers say they arrested an impaired driver who was driving the wrong way on I-80 during Wednesday morning's snowstorm and doing doughnuts on the freeway.

Cars drive on State Street in Salt Lake City during a winter storm on Wednesday. Utah Highway Patrol troopers say they arrested an impaired driver who was driving the wrong way on I-80 during Wednesday morning's snowstorm and doing doughnuts on the freeway. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)


Save Story

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.

SALT LAKE CITY — As if the weather wasn't already creating enough hazardous driving conditions, Utah Highway Patrol troopers say they also had to deal with an impaired driver who was driving the wrong way and doing doughnuts on the freeway Wednesday morning.

"It was completely unacceptable to have total disregard for public safety," UHP Sgt. Cameron Roden said.

Robert Glenn Branson, 53, was arrested for investigation of driving the wrong way while under the influence, reckless driving, marijuana possession, interfering with an arrest, and refusing a DUI test.

UHP troopers were called to the area of I-80 and 700 East just after 4 a.m. Wednesday where Branson "was traveling (the) wrong way on the freeway and driving recklessly by doing doughnuts on the freeway," according to a police booking affidavit.

"He mentioned using meth and other drugs several times. He was aggressive, erratic and highly unpredictable. The subject continued making statements about shooting him and aggressive sexual statements," troopers noted in the affidavit. "The subject made several statements about murdering people."

Troopers say Branson smelled strongly of alcohol, and marijuana was found in his vehicle.

Most recent Police & Courts stories

Related topics

Pat Reavy, KSLPat Reavy
Pat Reavy interned with KSL in 1989 and has been a full-time journalist for either KSL or Deseret News since 1991. For the past 25 years, he has worked primarily the cops and courts beat.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Newsletter Signup

KSL Weather Forecast

KSL Weather Forecast
Play button