WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah — A high-speed chase through three Washington County towns ended when the suspect collided with a responding Hurricane police officer’s vehicle early Sunday morning.
At about 4:30 a.m., A Washington County Sheriff’s deputy spotted a Dodge Charger stopped along State Route 17. When the deputy turned to check on the car, the driver took off.
“The vehicle sped up,” said Washington County Sheriff’s detective Nate Abbott. “[The car] actually passed a vehicle improperly at that point he tried to stop the vehicle.”
Abbot said the speeds exceeded 100 mph.
The driver, later identified as 32-year-old Michael Ryan Dalby of Bluffdale, failed to yield to deputies and traveled through Toquerville, La Verkin and Hurricane at a high rate of speed, the sheriff’s office reports.
“The driver ran stop signs and drove recklessly until it collided into a responding Hurricane City Police officer’s vehicle and the driver was taken into custody,” according to a release from the sheriff’s office.
Hurricane Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said the officer received minor injuries in the crash, and is expected to be OK.
It was discovered that the vehicle was stolen from South Salt Lake July 28.
After medical clearance, Dalby was booked into the Washington County Jail on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, DUI, evading, reckless driving and probation violation.
Dalby was the sole occupant in the Dodge Charger.
