On Sunday, October 13, 2024, at approximately 8:03 pm, The Utah Highway Patrol began to receive multiple reports of a male pedestrian running through traffic on Interstate 15 near 600 North in Salt Lake City. Troopers searched the area several times but could not locate the individual.
At approximately 9:06 pm, the pedestrian was located. The male was in the northbound travel lanes but ran from troopers after being challenged to stop. Troopers coordinated to control traffic by attempting a slow down in the area and attempting to apprehend the individual to keep them from causing a crash or getting hit. As the male fled from officers on the Northbound I-15 600 North off-ramp, he jumped over a cement barrier. Multiple attempts were made to obtain compliance. A Taser device was deployed to keep him from going back into the roadway. The male fell from the off-ramp an estimated 30 feet into the residential yard below.
Officers from multiple agencies responded to the residence and gained access to the fallen pedestrian. Life-saving measures were attempted, but the male was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Utah Highway Patrol initiated an Officer-Involved Critical Incident (OICI) protocol investigation into the incident. The West Valley Police Department will lead that investigation.
This is an ongoing investigation, and these details are preliminary.