ST. GEORGE, Utah -– Authorities have two women and a man in custody accused of running from police and crashing a stolen truck Tuesday.
Wyoming native Saray Diaz Fernandez and Nebraska resident Brooks Anthony Burkhardt were arrested for failing to stop at the command of an officer.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety arrested the third suspect, Marrisa Lutz of Nebraska, but have not released any more information about her.
Officials were called about “three suspicious individuals” near Interstate 15 southbound just south of Black Rock Road at about 1 p.m.
The Arizona Dept. of Public Safety found the three suspects trying to flag down cars along the roadway and detained the 30-year-old man and two women ages 21 and 22.
“It appears that they’ve spent some time in the desert,” said St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain. “At this point we’re trying to find out where they’ve been and what they’ve done.”
One man is still on the run.
Authorities have not given a description or any information about him.
The search started Tuesday when an officer stopped a 2009 Chevrolet pickup for speeding on I-15 at about 4 a.m.
Authorities learned the truck was reported stolen in Wyoming and had the license plates of a car stolen in Colorado.
Officers asked the driver to get out of the vehicle and then heard one of the four people inside yell “go” when the truck sped off.
Police didn’t immediately chase the truck but found it moments later with a flat tire after it had crashed into a cement lane divider.
“Through follow up and canvassing, it was determined they most likely headed west into the desert from I-15, south of the Sun River area,” said St. George Police Capt. Mike Giles. “Our dispatch center put out a citizen notification to the residents that live within a mile radius of the accident and the traffic stop.”
Giles said during that search a resident reported his car stolen from his garage. Police believe it’s connected to the earlier incident.
“We haven’t ruled it out at this point,” Despain said. “We’re still treating it that they are linked and that they are related until we can determine otherwise.”
Troopers said that stolen car is a white 2002 Mercedes-Benz, model SLD320, with a Utah purple heart license plate of 8479S.
Authorities said St. George residents should still keep doors locked and urged against picking up hitchhikers.
The Utah Highway Patrol sent up a helicopter but weren’t able to find the four who ran.
Authorities said they found two airsoft or pellet guns in the truck.
Police would like to speak with anyone who might have information at 435-627-4300.
