Semitruck catches on fire after police pursuit near Beaver
Jan 9, 2025, 3:46 PM | Updated: Jan 10, 2025, 1:12 pm
BEAVER — A police pursuit involving a semi-truck closed down southbound traffic on Interstate 15 Thursday afternoon.
Lt. Cameron Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol told KSL that the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office was chasing the semi. After the semi was stopped, the vehicle caught on fire.
It was not immediately clear why Sevier County Sheriffs were pursuing the semi and what caused the fire. However, a probable cause statement for the incident obtained Friday said multiple drivers called 911 about the semi-truck driving dangerously on Interstate 70, and officers attempted a traffic stop.
The driver of the fleeing truck, identified in the statement as 42-year-old Sonny Garrett, refused to pull over — a police pursuit ensued.
“Sevier County deputies called out deployed spikes attempting to slow down the vehicle. After hitting the spikes, (Garrett) continued to drive towards the I-15 junction,” the statement said.
The semi-truck was spiked multiple times, the statement said, but Garrett kept driving until the tires broke apart and fell of the rims. Flames were seen coming off the sides of the truck, apparently caused by the semi riding on its rims.
Police said the semi-truck stopped around mile post 115 on Interstate 15, heading south. Garrett got out of the cab after the flames from the wheels caught the truck on fire, the statement said. He was taken into custody and accused of DUI and failure to stop at the command of police, along with driving infractions. The statement said more emergency crews arrived to put out the fire and provide medical attention to Garrett. Paramedics determined he was well enough to be transported to jail.
Contributing: Jacob Freeman, KSL TV
This is a breaking news story and it may be updated.
