Man arrested after crash leads to carjacking attempt, police say

SOUTH JORDAN — A 29-year-old man was arrested in South Jordan on Thursday after police say he got into a crash and then tried to flee the scene by carjacking another vehicle.

Bernardo Abel Diaz was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated robbery, interfering with police, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury and failing to obey a traffic light.

Police say Diaz ran a red light at 10600 South and Jordan Gateway while traveling an estimated 50-60 mph on the 35-mph road. "The suspect drove around a stopped vehicle and failed to obey the traffic control signal which was red, crashing into a vehicle traveling west," according to a booking affidavit.

Diaz exited his vehicle after the crash and was "bumping his chest." He then went up to another vehicle and tried to "forcefully remove" a woman from the driver's seat, the affidavit states.

"He grabbed me by my neck and arm and tried to pull me out," the woman later told police.

The woman said Diaz told her, "I need to get out of here," according to the affidavit. A paramedic who had arrived at the scene was able to draw Diaz's attention away from the woman who then drove off.

Diaz briefly jumped onto the hood of a second car before South Jordan police arrived. Officers ordered Diaz to get on the ground and were forced to use a Taser to take him into custody.

When he was arrested, police say Diaz "had pinpoint pupils and was unable to have a coherent conversation with officers or fire personnel. Bernardo would ramble about people being after him. Once the suspect was placed into a patrol vehicle, he continually closed his eyes, nodded off and then would wake up," the affidavit alleges.

Police say a girl in the car Diaz hit was taken to a local hospital to be treated for "moderate" injuries.

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