Police: 18-year-old man arrested after multi-city pursuit, fleeing over 130 mph with no lights

NORTH SALT LAKE, Utah (KUTV) — An 18-year-old Utah man was arrested after a multi-city pursuit that allegedly involved the suspect crashing into a patrol vehicle and fleeing at speeds over 130 mph with no lights. Officials said a black Dodge Charger had fled from a Salt Lake County Utah Highway Patrol trooper on northbound I-15 in North Salt Lake just after 11 p.m. on Friday. They reported getting multiple calls from other drivers stating the suspect vehicle was recklessly passing them over 100 mph in Centerville.

Troopers said they then began to follow the Charger, which was still going over 100 mph when it reached Farmington. A traffic stop was attempted at the 200 North off-ramp in Kaysville. The driver, later identified as Chrystapher James Kessler, allegedly slowed down before turning his lights back off and driving through a red traffic signal.

According to a probable cause statement, Kessler continued to drive on northbound I-15 going over 115 mph. A UHP trooper followed the Charger off Antelope Drive, where they said Kessler went through two more red lights. Officials said they deployed spikes once Kessler turned north onto 1000 West in Syracuse.

At this point, a DPS helicopter had joined the pursuit. Multiple officers assisted to box the Charger in at the intersection, however, “Kessler put his vehicle in reverse and accelerated backwards, crashing into a UHP patrol car, and was able to escape again.” He then allegedly continued to flee over 100 mph on eastbound SR-193 in Clearfield and attempted to turn onto Center Street.

Court documents stated Kessler then crashed due to his speed and his flat tires, which were caused by the spikes. A passenger was injured in the crash, however the extent of their injuries were not specified. Kessler fled the scene on foot, and the DPS helicopter followed him until he was taken into custody.

After searching the Charger, officials said multiple THC pens were found and it was discovered that there was no insurance on the vehicle.

“Kessler confirmed that he was the driver of the car and that he had fled since his license was not valid,” a probable cause statement read. “I asked Kessler about the incident where the patrol cars had boxed him in after the Charger was spiked and he explained, ‘F*** it man, I’m already so deep, might as well go through y’all.'”

Kessler was arrested and booked into Davis County Jail for reckless endangerment, two counts of reckless driving, two counts of failing to stop at the command of police (third-degree felonies), three counts of failing to obey the traffic lights, operating without lights after sunset, failing to remain at the scene of a crash involving injury, failing to remain at the scene of a crash involving property damage, not having a valid license, operating a vehicle without insurance, possessing marijuana, possessing drug paraphernalia and aggravated assault (a third-degree felony).