West Valley City police arrested a man accused of driving away as his wife fell from their moving car during a fight Thursday.

The couple was fighting over money when the woman who was driving decided to pull over, said West Valley City police Lt. Bill Merritt. With them was a mentally disabled relative of the woman.

She stepped out of the car near 3200 West and South Frontage Road (2150 South) as they continued fighting, but then decided to get back inside. They raced for the driver's seat, but the man allegedly punched his wife and got behind the wheel.

The woman was still trying to get inside the car as he started to drive, and kept going as she hit the pavement, Merritt said.

"Whether she was dragged 5, 2, 10, or 1,000 feet, we don't know," he said. "Whether she was stuck on the side, we don't know."

Marks in the dust on the car indicate that she was "trying to hold on for dear life," before falling to the ground, Merritt said.

Witnesses called police and officers found the car near 2600 South and 2700 West. Initial reports indicated that he had pushed her from the moving car.

Looking frightened, the disabled man pointed at a nearby business, and officers arrested its 49-year-old owner on suspicion of domestic aggravated assault.

The woman was taken to a hospital in fair condition.

-- Lindsay Whitehurst