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SALT LAKE CITY — A 25-year-old man crashed into a parked police car early Tuesday, causing a chain reaction that damaged other patrol vehicles and injured two people, including an officer, police say.
Just after 1 a.m., police in three patrol cars had been providing traffic control for an officer in a fourth car, who had stopped a 47-year-old woman near 1300 South and 700 East. A man then crashed into the back of one of the parked police vehicles, according to a statement from the Salt Lake City Police Department.
The crash "caused a chain reaction" which damaged three of the four patrol cars at the scene, the statement says.
The officer who had conducted the traffic stop and the woman he was investigating were inside one of the cars at the time of the impact and had to be taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.
The 25-year-old man, who was uninjured, "did not slow down at all before striking the patrol vehicle," and admitted to drinking at Top Golf before driving home, a police booking affidavit states. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of DUI, negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, and failing to make space for an emergency vehicle.
The woman who was injured received a ticket for driving under the influence as well.
"We're fortunate this wasn't worse and I strongly urge everyone to make responsible and safe choices — never drive under the influence," Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said in a statement.
