Impaired, unlicensed driver allegedly caused head-on crash near Park City

PARK CITY — A 26-year-old man was arrested near Park City over the weekend for allegedly causing a head-on crash and then walking away, with a blood-alcohol level more than five times the legal limit.

Jonathan Casimiro Abarca Rodriguez was booked into the Summit County Jail for investigation of more than a dozen charges including DUI, four counts of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, not having an interlock device, being an alcohol restricted driver, reckless driving, failing to stay in a single lane, driving on the wrong side of the road, passing in a 'no passing' zone, three counts of leaving the scene of an accident with serious injury and never obtaining a driver's license.

The incident happened Saturday around 9:30 p.m. Utah Highway Patrol responded to a crash near Kearns Boulevard and Round Valley Drive.

"While responding to the scene, I was advised that one of the vehicles had numerous open containers (of alcohol) and was unoccupied," the arresting trooper wrote in a police booking affidavit.

Troopers learned that Abarca had crossed the double lines on the road, was driving into oncoming traffic and hit a Subaru with three people inside, head-on, the affidavit states.

"The driver of (the Subaru) suffered substantial bodily injury," according to the affidavit.

The two others in the vehicle suffered minor injuries. Additional information about the victims was not immediately available.

After the crash, Abarca and his passenger got out of their vehicle, "crossed over a fence, and then crossed Round Valley Drive, and were laying in a field away from the scene of the crash," the affidavit states.

He was taken to a local hospital to be checked out before being booked into jail. At the hospital, Abarca admitted to drinking several beers that evening, the affidavit states. Troopers also learned that Abarca had never been issued a driver's license and was an alcohol-restricted driver.

"A preliminary breath test was conducted and returned positive for (a blood-alcohol level) at 0.277%," or more than five times the legal limit, according to the affidavit.

Court records state that Abarca was previously convicted of DUI in Murray Justice Court in April 2025.

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