A Murray man is facing felony charges in 3rd District Court after he led police on a high-speed chase Saturday evening on Interstate 80.
Patrick Taylor Hess, 25, is charged with three counts of third-degree felony failure to stop or respond at the command of police, as well as misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, reckless driving and failure to stop at the command of law enforcement.
Utah Highway Patrol responded to reports of a reckless driver in a black Ford Explorer that had merged onto I-80 at Exit 99 in Lake Point at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a probable cause statement. A Tooele County Sheriff’s deputy located the black SUV, which had changed its direction of travel several times and was driving on westbound I-80.
When UHP troopers caught up with the vehicle near mile post 84, it was traveling 90 mph in an 80 mph zone and was weaving between lanes, the statement said. The driver, later identified as Hess, failed to stop when the troopers activated their lights and continued westbound.
Hess took Exit 77 but blew through the stop signs and rejoined the highway via the on ramp, according to the probable cause statement. The black SUV nearly exited the highway again at Exit 70 but turned back onto the highway, nearly striking the exit sign.
During the chase, speeds ranged from about 70 mph to 100 mph, the statement said. Around mile marker 68, the SUV crossed the median and continued westbound in the eastbound lanes; at one point Hess turned the lights off completely in the vehicle.
The troopers terminated the chase shortly after Hess started driving against traffic, according to the probable cause statement. The UHP troopers remained at mile marker 66 and were soon informed by dispatch the black SUV was now heading eastbound and had nearly hit several cars.
When the black SUV passed the troopers on the shoulder of the road, they attempted to make a stop at 11:06 p.m. but Hess failed to yield, the statement said. When the vehicle took Exit 88 toward Grantsville, the troopers terminated the chase for a second time.
Troopers caught back up to the black SUV after it was seen heading eastbound near mile marker 84 and again attempted to make a stop, the statement said. Hess again failed to stop and hit a spike strip with the left side tires at mile marker 96.
The vehicle then left the highway at Exit 99 and stopped at a hotel in Lake Point, at which point Hess attempted to flee from police on foot, according to the probable cause statement. Troopers caught up to the suspect at the northwest corner of the hotel and he was tripped and detained after not responding to orders to stop.
While Hess was arrested for driving under the influence and submitted to a blood draw at the time of his arrest, he was not charged with a DUI by the Tooele County Attorney’s office. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance in 3rd District Court on Oct. 3 before Judge Robert Adkins.