- Patrick Kim Bierschied II was arrested for investigation of reckless driving in Moab.
- He caused a wrong-way crash injuring five, then fled the scene, police said.
- Bierschied was combative with police and refused a blood-alcohol test, according to a police affidavit.
MOAB — Police say they arrested a man Thursday who drove recklessly through Moab, caused a crash that injured five people, and then left the scene of the crash.
Patrick Kim Bierschied II, 36, was arrested for investigation of multiple counts of negligently operating a vehicle and causing a crash with injuries; failure to remain at the scene of an accident; assault by a prisoner; assault; and several other traffic-related charges.
About 9:30 p.m., a witness told Moab police that he saw Bierschied, who was driving a black Ram truck, swerve into a parking lot and start doing donuts, coming close to hitting other vehicles, according to a police booking affidavit.
Bierschied then drove out of the parking lot.
The witness recognized Bierschied later, providing officers with his name, according to the affidavit. It is unclear from court documents whether the witness previously knew Bierschied.
Moab police say the witness then followed Bierschied, attempting to get as much information as possible to give to a police officer. The witness saw Bierschied exit his vehicle and asked him if he was OK. Bierschied responded by cursing at the witness. The witness called Bierschied by name and again asked if he was OK. Bierschied responded violently, putting his hands on the witness's face and neck and then shoving the witness, according to the affidavit.
Bierschied then entered his vehicle, did another donut and drove away, the affidavit states.
At this time, a police sergeant saw the black Ram driving at a high rate of speed in the middle lane near the intersection of Kane and Main streets. The sergeant followed Bierschied, attempting to pull him over, but Bierschied did not stop, according to police.
The truck then drove south in the northbound lane, police said, and eventually collided head-on with another car. The driver of the other car sustained serious injuries in the crash, police said, and four passengers were also injured.
Bierschied continued to travel southbound in the northbound lane, occasionally changing lanes, according to the police affidavit, before driving into a ditch.
Another witness said they later saw Bierschied exit his vehicle and leave by foot.
A deputy found Bierschied near Boulder and U.S. 191 and ordered him to stop. Police say Bierschield did not stop
He then "began exhibiting combative and aggressive behavior" toward the deputy. The sergeant who attempted to stop Bierschied and another officer who arrived to help with the arrest noted the strong smell of alcohol coming from Bierschied.
Bierschied was taken to Grand County jail while secured in the sergeant's vehicle. He became combative with officers at the jai and began kicking police officers, according to the affidavit.
Bierschied refused a blood-alcohol test. Police requested Bierschied not be released on bail.
