TOOELE COUNTY, Utah -- The mother of a man who was shot and killed by police in Saratoga Springs in 2014 allegedly struck a Utah Highway Patrol trooper's vehicle Tuesday night near Stockton City, and police say they suspect impairment to be a factor in the crash.
Sgt. Todd Royce of the Utah Highway Patrol confirms the driver in the crash is Susan Hunt, the mother of Darrien Hunt. Darrien Hunt was shot by officers responding to a report of a man with a sword, and the shooting was later ruled legally justified.
Dash camera video from the incident Tuesday night shows Hunt's vehicle driving the wrong way on SR-73 and nearly crashing into a police vehicle. A short chase follows and ultimately ends when the vehicle collides with the trooper's car at low-speeds. See the video above for that footage.
"[The Trooper] was able to intercept the car in Stockton, had an exchange, almost hit the Trooper," Royce said. "The trooper turned around, was able to get the car safely stopped, actually had to block the vehicle in."
Royce said they are still investigating the incident to determine if they will file charges or issue a citation to Hunt.
"The trooper talked to her for quite some time, come to the conclusion that she had some medical issues, as well as we're investigating impairment as well," he said. "After she gets the medical attention she needs, then we'll worry about any charges that may be forthcoming."
Things began just before 9 p.m. when someone called to report a reckless driver traveling west on SR-73 near the Ophir Junction. The caller stated the driver was swerving all over the road and even crossing into oncoming lanes.
A trooper encountered the vehicle and activated his emergency lights and sirens, and the vehicle proceeded toward the trooper's car in the wrong lane, turning back into the correct lane just before contact.
The video shows the trooper turns to follow the reckless driver, and eventually the trooper moves into position to block the driver's path, at which point a low-speed crash occurs.
The trooper was not injured, and Hunt was transported to a hospital to be evaluated for a medical condition not related to the crash.
Police state impairment is being investigated as a cause in the crash.
Hunt is still involved in a legal dispute with Saratoga Springs and its police department over her son's death, and most recently a judge is deliberating on whether or not to enforce a $900,000 settlement that Hunt's attorney agreed to take but that Susan Hunt has said she did not agree to and will not accept. A non-disparagement clause included in that settlement is of particular importance to Hunt, click here for details.
