Chase along 191 ends in crash and arrest

by David Boyle
News Director
Local law enforcement arrested a suspected drunk driver after a chase on 191 ended in a single-car collision on Friday May 2.
San Juan County Sheriff’s office shared law enforcement officers located the driver of a red pickup truck after receiving reports of a possibly intoxicated driver.
Officers first located the reported driver and vehicle near milepost 37 on highway 191, a bit south of White Mesa near the turnoff near state route 262 the turnoff to Hovenweep.
Law enforcement made contact with the man who refused to obey lawful commands and took off in the vehicles south on 191. 
Officers followed the driver but terminated pursuit north of Bluff near the cut off road. 
As a precaution Bluff Elementary School was placed on lockdown and shortly after a San Juan County Sheriff’s Deputy found the car near the old Bluff school and followed the vehicle from a safe distance out of town. When Utah Highway Patrol attempted to stop the vehicle near Sand Island with the vehicle fleeing again before losing control and crashing through a fence near milepost 22 just before the turn to the bridge over the San Juan River on highway 191. 
After the crash officers began to render aid to the driver and sole occupant of the truck until medical personnel were able to get to the scene. The driver was transported by EMS and later flown out to the hospital.
The incident involved a host of local agencies including the Utah Highway Patrol, county sheriff’s office, Blanding police department, Bluff EMS and Fire, Blanding EMS and Fire, and Classic Air Med.