Orem Police Save Suspect From Burning Vehicle After It Plunges Off Overpass
Mar 18, 2021, 12:29 PM | Updated: Mar 19, 2021, 12:53 pm
VINEYARD, Utah – Authorities said a man who was allegedly fleeing from police in an SUV drove off an overpass Thursday morning during the pursuit.
The vehicle plunged approximately 25 feet off the Center Street bridge in Vineyard and then burst into flames.
Utah County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Holden Rockwell said officers with the Orem Police Department were the first to arrive at the scene. They were able to pull the semi-conscious suspect from the burning vehicle.
“They were concerned they weren’t even going to get him out,” he said.
Authorities respond after a vehicle that was fleeing police drove off a bridge in Vineyard on March 19, 2021 (KSL TV)
Dustin Butterfield, 35, of Taylorsville, was transported to the hospital. Rockwell said the injuries are “very serious but not life-threatening.”
The incident began in Provo, where authorities were called to a possible DUI situation.
Police reportedly attempted to make a vehicle stop, but the driver fled. The vehicle was then allegedly involved in a crash in Orem, and the driver fled that scene as well, Rockwell said.
“A citizen let us know about the vehicle coming into Vineyard,” he said. “One of our deputies witnessed a vehicle pass a school bus with the red lights out.”
The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle drove away. UCSO did not pursue it.
The SUV eventually drove up an overpass with a curved road and ended up driving off the side, Rockwell said.
Dramatic body camera video shows officers running to rescue Butterfield as the car burst into flames.
#JUSTIN: Body cam shows @OremDPS officers as they rush to rescue a man from a burning car… The man lost control and drove off of the overpass. Update at 6 @KSL5TV **SENSITIVE CONTENT, viewer discretion is advised.** pic.twitter.com/w2ibxRH0KW
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) March 18, 2021
“One of the great things that the Orem officers did, (they) actually had to pull him from the vehicle as it was on fire … they were concerned they weren’t going to get him out and so luckily they were able to pull him and get him away from the vehicle,” Rockwell said.
He noted that it’s not clear how fast the suspect was driving on the overpass, but evidence at the scene “would indicate he was at a good speed.”
“The overpass itself is a new road here in Vineyard. It’s been a great asset to the city,” Rockwell said. “There is a slight curve as you come up. However, the speed limit is 25 miles an hour. So as long as you’re obeying the speed limit and following the law, it’s very easy to maneuver.”
“As we witnessed, if you’re not obeying the law and you’re fleeing from the police and driving at an exceedingly fast speed, it causes issues,” he added.
Butterfield is facing several charges including fleeing from police, passing a school bus with its stop-arm out, running a red light and reckless driving. Authorities are investigating if impairment was a factor in the crash, and those results are pending.
