SALT LAKE CITY

SLCPD warns of DUI dangers after high-speed crash in downtown

Jan 25, 2025, 1:44 PM | Updated: 2:13 pm

A 18-year-old impaired driver, not pictured, caused a high-speed, four-car crash at 400 South State...

A 18-year-old impaired driver, not pictured, caused a high-speed, four-car crash at 400 South State Street, severely damaging one vehicle and overturning another, resulting in minor injuries to a 22-year-old female driver (SLCPD)

(SLCPD)

SALT LAKE CITY — A high-speed crash on Friday night involving an impaired driver had the Salt Lake City Police Department warning the community about the dangers of driving under the influence.

According to a press release from the SLCPD, the incident happened at 400 S. State St., when a driver crashed into a vehicle stopped at the red light.

Police said the impact was so severe that the stopped vehicle flipped on its top. The 22-year-old woman inside the overturned car received only minor injuries.

Police also said two other cars at the intersection received secondary impacts resulting from the crash.

The SLCPD’s Motor Squad responded, determining the driver, 18-year-old Cesar Rojas, was impaired at the time of the crash.

Rojas was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro jail. Police said he was booked on charges of driving under the influence and negligently operating a vehicle.

“Driving impaired is an inexcusable and reckless decision that puts our entire community in danger,”  SLCPD Police Chief Mike Brown said.

“The victims of these crashes can be left with life-altering injuries, emotional trauma, and, in the worst cases, the loss of life,” Brown said. “I urge everyone to make responsible choices by planning ahead, using a designated driver, or calling for a ride. There is just never an excuse for putting lives at risk.”

Read the full story at KSLTV.com

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SLCPD warns of DUI dangers after high-speed crash in downtown