Salt Lake City, UT – Two Utah County sheriff’s deputies deliberately crashed into a wrong-way driver on Interstate 15 near Provo, stopping the vehicle before it could cause a more serious collision, officials said.
The incident unfolded after deputies responded to a request for assistance along I-15 near Provo, where a vehicle was reported traveling the wrong direction in active traffic lanes. Despite damage to multiple vehicles, authorities confirmed no serious injuries and said the driver is now being investigated for possible impaired driving.
Incident Overview
Officials with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said deputies located a vehicle driving northbound in the southbound lanes near Provo’s southern border, creating an immediate threat to other motorists on one of the region’s busiest highways.
Wrong-way driving incidents are considered especially dangerous because they often result in high-speed, head-on crashes with little time for drivers to react. In this case, deputies made a quick decision to intervene directly, preventing the vehicle from continuing further into oncoming traffic.
Timeline of Events
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded after receiving a request for assistance involving a wrong-way driver on the interstate.
Once deputies located the vehicle, they acted to stop it before it could re-enter traffic flow or collide with another motorist. Authorities said the vehicle was traveling the wrong direction near the southern edge of Provo, prompting an urgent response.
Details From Officials
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said the stop involved two separate impacts from deputies’ patrol vehicles in a coordinated effort to immobilize the wrong-way driver.
One deputy struck the vehicle on the driver’s side, causing it to spin. During that maneuver, the wrong-way vehicle then collided with the second deputy’s car, which officials said helped block the suspect vehicle from moving back into traffic.
“One deputy hit the vehicle on the driver’s side, and the wrong-way vehicle spun into the second deputy’s car,” officials said, adding that the crash prevented the vehicle from re-entering active lanes.
Authorities confirmed that all three vehicles involved sustained damage, but emphasized that everyone involved was able to walk away without serious harm.
Condition of Those Involved
Officials said both deputies and two occupants inside the wrong-way vehicle were “ok” following the crash.
No additional medical information was released, and authorities did not indicate whether anyone was transported to a hospital. The fact that no serious injuries were reported is notable given how dangerous wrong-way crashes can become, particularly on interstates where speeds are higher and traffic volume can be heavy.
Investigation Into Possible DUI
The driver of the wrong-way vehicle is now being investigated for potentially driving under the influence, according to officials. The sheriff’s office did not release the driver’s identity or confirm whether an arrest had been made as of the initial announcement.
No further details were provided regarding what may have caused the driver to enter the freeway going the wrong direction, or whether additional factors—such as distraction, fatigue, or confusion—may have played a role.
The case remains under investigation, and any possible charges would likely depend on the results of the inquiry, including whether impairment is confirmed.
