BEAVER, Utah — A semi-truck driver who led multiple law enforcement agencies on a miles-long pursuit in southern Utah is now facing several charges including failure to stop at the command of police, driving under the influence, refusing a chemical test, reckless driving, speeding, and changing lanes without a signal.
The driver, 42-year-old Sonny Garrett, allegedly called 911 dispatchers on Thursday at around 1:00 p.m. from the area of milepost 90 on Interstate 70. During the call, Garrett allegedly told the dispatcher that he was going to die before saying, "It has never worked out and that he'd never hurt anyone," according to court documents.
A second call was then placed at 1:24 p.m. by a Fed Ex driver saying that a driver of a white semi with a flatbed trailer with white square cargo strapped onto it had been harassing him. According to the Fed Ex driver, when the semi got onto the Interstate he nearly hit the Fed Ex truck. The Fed Ex driver also stated that the semi was drifting from one side of the road to the other and was not letting people pass.
Another driver, this time in a UPS truck, called 911 at 1:47 p.m. to report a traffic hazard. According to this reporting party, he was following a semi that matched the description of the other caller and had seen it going from one side of the road to another with no control.
Authorities responded to the area of the reports and found a semi-truck matching the descriptions of the reporting parties near milepost 13 of westbound I-70. A Sevier County Sheriff's Deputy reported in court documents that he witnessed the semi crossing the fog lines of the interstate. That is when officials, including Utah Highway Patrol, would attempt to pull the driver over.
Garrett continued driving on westbound Interstate 70, swerving between lanes and changing speeds from 40 miles per hour to over 80 miles per hour.
Garrett called 911 again insisting to be put through the to Utah Highway Patrol troopers who were following him. He also allegedly told dispatchers that he didn't want them to tell him what to do and he didn't want to be shot.
At milepost 5 Sevier County deputies deployed spikes to attempt to slow down the semi-truck. However, after hitting the spikes Garrett continued driving towards the I-15 junction. The truck drove over another two sets of spikes set up by the Utah Highway Patrol.
The semi-truck began to lose pieces of tire and flames became visible on the driver's side front tire. The vehicle would come to a stop at milepost 115 on southbound I-15.
Officials took Garrett into custody while firefighters put out the flames on the vehicle. Paramedics also checked on Garrett to ensure that he was alright to be transported by authorities.
Garrett told officers at the scene that he had taken medications but didn't disclose which medications he takes.
