UPDATE, 6:12 p.m.: Gov. Spencer Cox held a press conference to thank law enforcement and offer condolences to the family of the fallen officer.
Flags are being flown at half-staff and a memorial has been set up in Santaquin.
UPDATE, 11:41 a.m.: The suspect — Michael Aaron Jayne, 41 — is now in custody. Jayne crashed his vehicle in Vernal, according to Sgt. Cameron Roden, UHP.
Shortly before 6 a.m. Sunday morning, police received a 911 call regarding a person standing on the back of a semi-trailer that was heading northbound on I-15 in Santaquin.
At around 6:30 a.m., police conducted a traffic stop on the semi-truck driver, identified as Michael Aaron Jayne. Jayne initially fled the scene, but made a U-turn and hit a Santaquin Police officer, killing him.
Jayne also hit the officer’s vehicle, as well as a UHP trooper’s vehicle before fleeing on foot. Jayne continued to steal multiple cars before being taken into custody in Vernal.
No further information is available at this time.
UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: The Utah Dept. of Public Safety has identified a suspect in this incident.
Please call 911 if you see the individual below. He has been identified as Michael Aaron Jayne, 41. He is reportedly driving a white Ford F-150 with Utah license plate number 2D7TR.
“Do not approach, we believe he may be armed and dangerous. If you see him, call authorities immediately,” DPS posted on social media.
Southbound I-15 at milepost 244 in Santaquin is now open. Northbound lanes are still closed. Expect major delays.
UPDATE, 11:01 a.m.: The shelter-in-place order has been lifted in all areas, police said.
Further details on this incident have not yet been released.
UPDATE, 9:58 a.m.: A shelter-in-place order is in effect from Payson to Santaquin as police search for the suspect in this incident.
Gov. Cox has also spoken out about the loss of a Santaquin officer this morning.
“Devastating news from our law enforcement community this morning. Please keep this officer’s family in your prayers. Our hearts are broken and we give our unending gratitude to all those who protect and serve,” Cox posted on social media.
ORIGINAL POST: SANTAQUIN, Utah (ABC4) — A Santaquin Police officer was hit and killed by a semi-truck in Santaquin Sunday morning, according to Spanish Fork Police, Fire, and EMS.
The officer was reportedly struck by a semi on I-15 at South Payson. The road is currently shut down at that location.
“You may need go towards West Mt. to get into Santaquin on back roads,” Spanish Fork Police said on social media.
Utah Highway Patrol said the northbound and southbound lanes of I-15 are currently closed at milepost 244 as officers investigate the crash.
Details are limited at this time.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.
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