SANTAQUIN, Utah – A tragic incident unfolded when a suspect struck and killed a Santaquin police officer with a semi-truck before fleeing on Interstate 15. The episode initiated early on May 5, with a report of a person spotted standing on the back of a semi-truck trailer traveling northbound on the freeway.
Authorities swiftly responded to the situation, locating the semi-truck near milepost 244 in Santaquin just before 6:30 a.m. A traffic stop was conducted on the semi, leading the driver, later identified as 41-year-old Michael Aaron Jayne, to flee and drive towards first responders in the wrong direction.
The chaotic scene unfolded as Jayne collided with the Santaquin officer, their vehicle, and a Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) vehicle. Tragically, the Santaquin officer succumbed to their injuries at the scene. Jayne then abandoned the semi-truck and escaped on foot, allegedly stealing a white Ford F-150 in Sanpete County.
After a pursuit, officials tracked down the stolen vehicle in Vernal and apprehended Jayne following a crash. Lt. Cory Slaymaker of the Spanish Fork Police Department described the incident as a tragedy not only for those directly involved but for the entirety of Utah.
The aftermath of the incident led to the closure of both directions of Interstate 15 for several hours while authorities investigated the crash site. A shelter-in-place order was issued for various southern Utah County cities during the manhunt for Jayne.
Governor Spencer Cox of Utah expressed his condolences, offering prayers for the officer’s family and all affected by the heartbreaking event. As the community grapples with the loss, the impact of this devastating incident reverberates throughout the state.