SALT LAKE CITY — One person was killed and at least two others injured — one critically — when police say a Cache County man plowed into several vehicles while excessively speeding on Main Street in Moab Sunday.
Benjamin Thomas Balls, 41, of Hyde Park, was arrested for investigation of manslaughter, causing a death while refusing to stop for officers, reckless driving, criminal mischief, providing false information to police and several traffic infractions.
About 8 p.m. Sunday, police were attempting to locate a reckless driver spotted on U.S. 191 in a Chevy Silverado. A Utah Highway Patrol trooper first spotted the pickup truck going 78 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to a police affidavit. The trooper told Moab police that the vehicle had just run a red light entering the city limits of Moab and that he was terminating his pursuit for public safety.
“He was following at approximately 102 mph when he terminated and the vehicle was still pulling away from him,” the affidavit states.
As the pickup continued into downtown Moab, one witness told police a car was almost hit at the intersection at 400 East and Main. Two Grand County sheriff’s deputies then spotted the truck traveling about 80 mph in the 30 mph zone on Main Street, according to the affidavit.
“The suspect vehicle collided with a Chevy Tahoe in the intersection of Highway 191 and Main Street,” the affidavit states.
The driver of the Tahoe, Vilsar Camey, 45, of Moab, was killed, according to police. His 10-year-old son, Israel Camey, was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, the affidavit states. The impact from the collision propelled the Tahoe a half block before it came to a stop.
The Silverado then crashed into a second vehicle, a Chevy Envoy that was stopped at the intersection waiting to make a turn, and came to a stop after crashing into a vehicle at 7 N. Main. Police detained Balls, “who was crawling out of the passenger seat and found under the vehicle. They took Benjamin to the hospital. While at the hospital Benjamin uttered ... that he was not wearing his seat belt and has previously had a drug problem,” according to the affidavit.
The driver of the Envoy, a 30-year-old pregnant woman, was taken to a local hospital where police say she was treated for her injuries.
Inside Balls’ vehicle police found a traffic citation that was issued in New Mexico for speeding about 7 a.m. Sunday, according to the report.
At the time of the crash, Balls also had a warrant out for his arrest in Cache County for failing to appear in court on a charge of violating a protective order, court records indicate.
Moab police were expected to give an update on the crash Monday.