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HOLLADAY -- A longtime Midvale police officer, department spokesman Sgt. John Salazar, resigned Tuesday after he was cited for a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. The citation came following an accident in Holladay on Halloween night.
Investigators say Salazar was behind the wheel in a drunk driving accident on Halloween night. Around 1 a.m., he crashed into several cars along 3020 East near 4700 South.
"The side of it had been smashed in from being side-swiped," said Meagan Short, who's PT Cruiser was hit in the accident.
In addition to Short's vehicle, a pickup truck was also hit. The impact of the crash was enough to break its axle.
The crash also damaged the front end of Salazar's Dodge Charger.
"The whole hood of the car was pretty much gone," Short said. "Both airbags deployed. The windshield was cracked. I was concerned when I first came out. I asked if anyone was hurt because I didn't think anyone could get out of the car."
She said she knew immediately that the driver had been drinking.
"We could smell it. It was without question, from smelling it on him and seeing him," Short said.
Midvale police arrived first, even though neighbors had called the sheriff's office. Deputies got there shortly after and took over the investigation.
"We plan on making sure this is a very thorough investigation and that a very thorough packet is presented to the Holladay city attorney, and they can make appropriate decisions from there," said Salt Lake County sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson.
"We do believe alcohol was involved," Hutson continued, adding that Salazar is expected to be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, a class B misdemeanor.
Midvale City Attorney Craig Hall said the city will pay to repair the damaged vehicles. He called the entire incident a tragedy and said Salazar had been on the force 13 or 14 years. He said Salazar was a competent, capable and exemplary employee.
That's fine with Short, but even so, she's still frustrated with the situation.
"It's disappointing to know that those that we want to respect and are supposed to protect us are the ones that cause this type of thing," she said.
The Sheriff's Office has confirmed there was a female passenger who left the scene before officers arrived. They are questioning her at this time.
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Story compiled with contributions from Nicole Gonzales, John Daley, Cleon Wall and Andrew Adams.
