This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A quadriplegic man's specially equipped minivan was found abandoned in South Salt Lake late Friday morning, the day after it was stolen from neighboring Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City police Detective Dennis McGowan said a South Salt Lake police officer, responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle, spotted the maroon 2010 Chrysler Town and Country van about 11 a.m. near 200 E. 3000 South. The officer recognized the van from previous news and social media reports and called SLCPD.
The family was notified of the discovery of the van and was expected to retrieve the vehicle, which initially appeared undamaged, later Friday.
The van, left running in the driveway to warm up, was stolen just before 10 a.m. Thursday from a residence near 700 N. 800 West. The vehicle also contained some of the man's clothing, medical equipment and medication.
The 27-year-old man, originally recruited to play football at Arizona State University, was in a car crash last January that fractured his spine. His parents had used their retirement funds to buy the minivan and pay for his therapy.
Police continued to investigate in hopes of locating the thief.
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