A person upset about an unavailable flight Friday went on a carjacking spree and crashed into a number of automobiles in Utah whereas heading towards his deliberate vacation spot, authorities mentioned.
John Joseph Thomas Inexperienced, 20, shall be booked into jail in Summit County, Utah, based mostly on a number of felony allegations that weren’t specified, in response to Salt Lake Metropolis police. He was hospitalized for remark.
The Utah Freeway Patrol mentioned it was investigating whether or not medication or alcohol have been an element.
The carjacking spree started about 5 a.m. after airport police informed metropolis officers a person at a ticket counter was upset that he could not get a ticket for a same-day flight to Denver, the Salt Lake Metropolis division mentioned in a press release.
The suspect took an SUV by bodily power from a motorist within the airport’s passenger pickup space, Salt Lake Metropolis police mentioned.
South of the airport, the SUV struck two automobiles, together with a BMW that he allegedly tried unsuccessfully to carjack, police mentioned. The BMW’s driver was carrying her seat belt and fought again, and the suspect returned to the broken SUV, legislation enforcement officers mentioned.
He then crashed into one other car, police mentioned. The suspect acquired out of the SUV and carjacked a Dodge Durango pickup, they mentioned.
Whereas utilizing on Interstate 80, the Durango hit as many as 5 vehicles in Summit County, east of Salt Lake Metropolis, in response to the Utah Division of Public Security. One of many crashes could have included a rollover.
Two folks sustained minor accidents and have been hospitalized, the state division mentioned. The Durango turned disabled on the freeway, it mentioned.
Summit County Sheriff’s Deputies mentioned the suspect was making an attempt to carjack a Toyota pickup by throwing a rock at it after they arrived and took him into custody.
The car’s driver fled with its keys, rendering it inconceivable to for the the suspect to drive it, Salt Lake Metropolis police mentioned.
The alleged crime spree was over earlier than 6 a.m., Division of Public Security officers mentioned.
The airport didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Erick Mendoza contributed.