Utah Police Officer Fatally Struck by Tractor-Trailer During Traffic Stop
A Utah police officer was killed after he was struck by a tractor-trailer Sunday.
Santaquin Police Sgt. Bill Hooser and a Utah Highway Patrol trooper responded shortly before 6:30 a.m. to a report of a person standing on the back of a moving tractor-trailer along Interstate 15, KUTV reports. While trying to flee the stop, the tractor-trailer turned the wrong way and fatally struck Hooser, as well as his cruiser and the trooper's cruiser.
The driver of the tractor-trailer—identified as Michael Aaron Jayne, 42—fled the scene on foot. A manhunt ensued, and a shelter-in-place order was issued for the area as authorities searched for Jayne.
During the manhunt, Jayne stole a pickup truck, and police began a vehicle pursuit. The chase ended when Jayne crashed in the Vernal area, and he was apprehended.
Hooser was survived by his wife, two daughters and recently born granddaughter. A GoFundMe campaign has been started for his family.