Tires spiked, sparks fly as man drives stolen truck on 3 rims on I-15

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SOUTHERN UTAH — An Arizona man had a less than smooth ride when he entered Southern Utah on Interstate 15 in a stolen truck early Sunday morning. When three of the four truck tires were spiked by law enforcement, the man continued driving more than 70 miles on the rims before he came to a stop in Beaver and was taken into police custody.

Matthew Hazenberg, 33, of Mesa, Arizona, stole the white Chevrolet Silverado truck Saturday night in Phoenix, Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Nathan Clark said, and proceeded to drive to Utah.

Arizona Department of Public Safety originally began pursuing Hazenberg at mile marker 20 in Arizona before notifying UHP at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday that their assistance would be required. UHP troopers picked up the pursuit as Hazenberg came into Utah.

Clark said he spiked the left tires of the truck Hazenberg was driving at mile marker 48, just south of Cedar City, but Hazenberg continued north, driving on the rims.

“Another officer was able to spike his front right tire,” Clark said. “The back tire was still intact.”

Sparks were flying and the truck’s rims were gouging out the road when the truck finally had enough at about milepost 114, just north of Beaver, and stopped, Clark said.

Hazenberg bolted from the stolen truck, leaping over the center cable barrier and running to the west, Clark said. Law enforcement on the scene gave chase before catching up with and arresting Hazenberg. He was booked into Beaver County jail.

Clark said he believes Hazenberg only came to a stop because the truck wouldn’t go any further.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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6 Comments

  • Brian September 21, 2015 at 8:28 am

    I’m surprised they let him drive that far on the rims without using the PIT maneuver to send him into the guard rail.

  • anybody home September 21, 2015 at 11:24 am

    The criminal mind is a wonder to behold.

  • fun bag September 21, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    it was probly a good long laugh, they didn’t want it to end. the poor road tho 🙁

  • knobe September 21, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    A person can drive over 60 miles on flats / rims ?
    Good thing I didn’t get a chance to place a bet ,
    I would have gone with something like a couple of miles !

    BTW – what did he test positive for ? Gotta be on Something to try that .

    !

    • fun bag September 21, 2015 at 10:02 pm

      RIMS PROBLY WORE DOWN TO NUBS, AND BRAKE ROTORS RUBBING ON THE ROAD…LOL

  • Dexter September 21, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    You shouldn’t make fun of the future city council member

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