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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY -- A high-speed chase ends when the suspect's car gets stuck in a construction zone. A trooper tried to stop the car Thursday around 1:30 a.m. for a traffic violation on I-15, but as the trooper approached the car, the driver sped off. That turned into a short chase along I-80.
The driver of the vehicle exited I-80 at the eastbound State Street exit. He then continued through the intersection into the construction area and tried to get back on I-15 by driving up the State Street ramp, which is currently closed.
As he got to the top of the ramp, he crashed the vehicle into a large mound of dirt. He then got out of the vehicle and took off on foot.
Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Trooper Cameron Roden said, "He had gone down into the city streets and was located there. The canine was used to take him into custody, and I believe he was bit as he was being restrained."
As the Salt Lake County Canine Unit was taking the driver, 31-year-old Elesio Gallegos, into custody, UHP troopers took the passenger into custody.
Troopers say the passenger did not try to flee from them once the car crashed, and he was later released.
Gallegos, on the other hand, was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. Roden explained, "Because there was a collision when he hit the hill, he did suffer some lacerations to the head, along with the dog bite. The driver was taken to IMC (Intermountain Medical Center) where he was checked out."
Gallegos is currently still at the hospital being treated. Troopers say the reason he tried to run was because he was intoxicated.
Now, not only will he be charged with a DUI, troopers say he will face felony fleeing charges as well.
E-mail: spark@ksl.com
