Identity revealed of pedestrian accused of fleeing troopers on I-15 and dying

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The pedestrian who died after leading troopers on a chase in and around I-15 has been identified.

Anthony James Valdez, 46, of Bluffdale, fell from an overpass after a Taser was used on him, authorities said.

According to a release from the Utah Department of Public Safety, the Utah Highway Patrol began responding to calls of a man on the highway in the 600 North area in Salt Lake City shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday.

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About an hour later, the man, identified as Valdez, was found in a northbound lane of traffic near the highway exit.

However, Valdez “fled from troopers after being challenged to stop,” according to DPS. “Officers coordinated to control traffic by attempting to slow down in the area and attempting to apprehend the individual to prevent him from causing an accident or being hit.”

As the UHP attempted to round up Valdez, he allegedly jumped over a cement barrier at the 600 North exit ramp, where “multiple attempts were made to gain compliance.”

When it appeared Valdez was going to attempt to return to the road, a trooper deployed a Taser in an attempt to stop him.

Valdez then fell off the exit ramp approximately 30 feet into a residential yard, DPS reported.

The time between when the Taser was deployed and when Valdez fell was not included in the statement, and it was not made clear whether Valdez’s fall was the result of the use of the Taser. Tasered by the UHP.

“Officers from multiple agencies responded to the residence and were able to gain access to the fallen pedestrian,” UHP reported. “Rescue measures were attempted, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The police critical incident protocol was activated, handing over the investigation to the West Valley City Police Department.

Both the reported information and the investigation are preliminary, DPS said.

Authorities have not indicated whether there were any apparent reasons why Valdez might have been on the highway, whether there were other crimes committed in connection with his presence on I-15, or s He appeared to be in an altered mental state.

Matthew Jacobson contributed to this report.

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