This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Unified Police on Wednesday were trying to figure out exactly who was driving when an out-of-control car slammed into a Kearns home, breaking a gas meter and forcing evacuations.
Finding that out was no easy thing for investigators, since the driver abandoned the wrecked sedan at 4980 S. 4820 West late Tuesday, and ran into the night. The registered female owner of the car reportedly blamed it on a teenage nephew, though witnesses purportedly saw a woman fleeing the scene.
UPD Lt. Justin Hoyal said he could not discuss specifics of the ongoing investigation, but he did deny news accounts that the woman who owned the car had been arrested.
"We contacted the registered owner, but she was not arrested. We're still trying to figure out who the driver was, and we hope the public can help us with that," Hoyal said.
UPD officers responded to a 911 call at 11 p.m. Tuesday after residents of the home heard a loud crash and discovered a maroon sedan had crashed into a parked pickup truck and then the gas meter. The house itself sustained very minor damage, Hoyal said.
Questar responded to repair the meter, but concerns over leaking natural gas led to Unified Fire Authority crews to briefly evacuate the home and a neighboring residence.
No injuries were reported.
Hoyal said anyone who may have witnessed the incident should call UPD at 801-743-7000.
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