Police Arrest Alleged Hit-And-Run Driver Who Caused Mayhem In Midvale
Jul 8, 2019, 1:31 PM | Updated: 2:01 pm
MIDVALE, Utah – Police say an alleged hit-and-run driver responsible for causing a fire and a power outage Monday morning has been arrested for driving under the influence.
Preston Daniel Reed, 22, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Monday morning. He faces DUI and hit-and-run charges.
“The whole street was on fire, about half way down that property line,” said Kevin Lassig, who woke up to a disaster outside his home. “Then I looked out the front window, and I saw these power cords down and the front on fire and that empty lot next to me was on fire too.”
Preston Daniel Reed (Photo: Salt Lake County Jail)
Lassig said he quickly called 911 and self-evacuated with his wife and dog before trying to put the fire out himself with the hose.
Unified Police Department Det. Ken Hansen said the chain reaction started when Reed ran a stop sign in his white SUV while going southbound on Allen Street. He then crashed into another vehicle at 8000 South, causing it to plow into a power pole.
That crash caused a chain reaction, caused a transformer to blow and powerlines to fall. The downed lines started a fire that took out power to more than 7,000 households.
Police say Reed then took off.
“Two UPD officers located him on 8200 south and 7th west, took him into custody, processed him as a DUI and have since booked him into the Salt Lake County Jail,” Hansen said.
Police said the crash appears to be alcohol related. Reed was first looked at by paramedics before being transported to jail. The other five occupants in the car that was struck are OK, but one person did complain of back pain.
There was also some flooding under the I-15 bridge at 8000 South after pumps failed during the power outage.
Rocky Mountain Power officials said electricity is expected to be fully restored by noon.
