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SPANISH FORK — A road rage investigation in Spanish Fork ended in a fatal crash early Friday.
Spanish Fork police were called around 2:15 a.m. to a suspected road rage near 800 North and U.S. 6. A driver reported he was stopped at a traffic light when another driver pulled up beside him and stared at him, according to a statement from the police department. The caller then continued east on U.S. 6 to 2550 East.
"The complainant advised the suspect vehicle began to follow him and at some point began ramming his vehicle," the department said.
As the victim was on the phone with 911 dispatchers, he turned onto Canyon Road, but the other driver "continued to follow and attempted to ram the victim," according to police.
A Spanish Fork police officer arrived in the area and spotted the aggressive driver's vehicle near 600 E. Canyon Road.
"An officer attempted a traffic stop in the area of 400 E. 300 South. The suspect vehicle fled north on 400 East at a high rate of speed. The Spanish Fork officer could not keep up with the suspect and lost sight," according to police.
But as the officer continued to drive where he had last seen the fleeing vehicle, he found it had crashed into a large tree in front of a residence at 500 North and 400 East. Despite life-saving measures administered by the officer, the 27-year-old driver, from Springville, died at the scene.
The name of the driver was not immediately released. Spanish Fork police enacted an officer-involved protocol investigation because of the fatal crash, which will be conducted by the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
