WEBER COUNTY, Utah – An erratic driver in Weber County on Sunday night had to answer to other drivers on the road, according to police.
After noticing a truck swerving in and out of traffic along Interstate 84, other drivers decided to take matters into their own hands and stop him.
“They got him boxed in and stopped,” said Sgt. Todd Royce of Utah Highway Patrol.
Just before sunset, four 911 calls were made to Weber County dispatch, after the truck was forced to pull over just before exit 87-A.
“There is a big road rage incident,” one caller said. “There is a bunch of people all over the road.”
According to police, two of the drivers who had been tailing the truck decided to get out and approach the man behind the wheel, 31-year-old John Mitchell.
“A person got out of the vehicle to confront the guy,” Royce said.
One of the men smashed the window of Mitchell’s car, Royce said, and then Mitchell sped away, hitting someone on his way out.
“He somehow ran over the ankle of the guy that exited the vehicle,” Royce said.
Mitchell didn’t get far before the drivers caught up with him again. They each called 911 and started to relay their locations to dispatchers as they followed him.
“He ran the yellow light. He ran the red light,” said a caller. “We’re running the red light. We’re running the red light.”
At least two different cars followed Mitchell into South Ogden, where he was arrested.
While authorities were appreciative of the help of the other drivers, some of them could be in trouble as well.
According to officials, they’re looking into the damage done to Mitchell’s car, as well as considering the intent of the group as they pursued him.
“That’s what we advise the public not to do, just because you can get hurt,” Royce said.
“We’d rather be able to just come back to your car, interview you and we go from there.”
