IRON COUNTY, Utah ( ABC4 ) — A man was arrested in Iron County on Thursday after fleeing police at speeds close to 200 mph, according to Utah Highway Patrol.
The driver, Cristian Miguel Sanchez Luna, 21, was arrested on failure to respond to an officer’s signal to stop (third-degree felony), category II restricted person transaction firearm (third-degree felony), and two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (second/third-degree felony), among other drug and traffic-related charges.
On Oct. 17, a UHP trooper in Sevier County saw a Dodge Charger with no license plate pass him on I-70 at a speed of 166 mph. Shortly after, police received a report from a caller stating that the same vehicle was near the junction of I-15 and I-70 and had gotten on I-15 Southbound.
Troopers in Beaver County responded and were on the lookout for the Charger. A trooper found the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the Charger took Exit 112 southbound on I-15 toward Beaver. After the trooper activated his emergency lights, the Charger moved to the shoulder of the road, passing a vehicle at a speed of 189 mph in an 80 mph zone.
West Jordan man arrested for punching kitten, resulting in its death, police say The vehicle then exited at I-15 at Exit 109 in Beaver before allegedly heading 70 mph down Main Street. The trooper stopped pursuing as the Charger exited the freeway.
Officers from several law enforcement agencies reportedly responded to the incident. The vehicle was reported heading west on SR-21 towards Minersville. On SR-21, a Beaver County deputy found the vehicle and tried to make a traffic stop.
The Charger continued to flee, police said, now heading southbound on SR-130 towards Cedar City. Another trooper responded on SR-130 at mile marker 19. At this point, the Charger was going 88 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Authorities say the Charger again accelerated to speeds over 110 mph, heading into the area of Enoch. Officers used “stop sticks” two separate times in an attempt to flatten the Charger’s tires. The Charger entered Enoch and officers used a “pursuit intervention technique,” otherwise known as a PIT stop, in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
The Charger came to a stop and Luna, as well as the passenger — identified as Ethan Mason, 21 — exited the vehicle. Luna allegedly threw an AR-15-style rifle over a fence to the south and was taken into custody without incident.
Police say Mason fled on foot and was taken into custody shortly after. In the path that he was running, police found a white plastic sack containing around three pounds of Psilocybin mushrooms. Upon searching the vehicle, police found two mason jars of marijuana, as well as scales, baggies, and additional smaller mason jars of marijuana.
Upon being interviewed, both Luna and Mason allegedly admitted to knowledge of the firearm and narcotics. Officers also found that the pair had the intent to distribute both the drugs, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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