By Travis Uresk
8/8/24
| Roosevelt, Ut. | August 1st, 2024 |
Roosevelt City Police responded to an accident report at 737 East 200 North by Auto Zone. When Officer Bellon arrived on the scene, only one vehicle from the accident was still there.
The officer spoke with several witnesses who stated that a black truck or SUV was speeding down US-40 westbound when it hit another vehicle pulling onto the highway from 800 East, turning West.
Officer Bellon spoke to the female driver, who said she started to pull out when the black truck came around the corner, heading West at a high rate of speed. The truck hit the front of her vehicle, sending her onto the sidewalk.
The female driver and the witnesses mentioned several times that the black truck had no lights on at the time of the accident. They stated that the black truck struck the female’s vehicle and then sped through the parking lots of China Star and Auto Zone, colliding with a post in front of Auto Zone.
The witnesses told the officer that it looked like the driver of the black truck was going to turn around and talk to them, but he got back onto Highway 40 and sped off westbound.
Officer Bellon asked the female driver if she had any injuries. She said that the only injury she had was a scrape on her right arm. EMS checked her and told her to be checked by her doctor within the next few days.
When Darius was located due to another accident he caused, he was spoken with there.
Officer Harrison received a traffic accident report at 1000 West 200 North in Roosevelt. The vehicle and driver were stuck inside the vehicle and blocking the eastbound lane.
The suspect vehicle had driven down the road and hit a tree, and the suspect fled on foot but was found a few minutes later.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 19-year-old Darius Robert Tapoof.
Darius was found to be under the influence of alcohol, so field sobriety tests were conducted. Darius had all the clues and failed all tests. Officer Bellon conducted these tests. Darius was highly intoxicated and had a hard time walking around.
Darius was driving late at night without headlights when lights were required. He swerved across the center medium lane, striking vehicle 2 head-on. Based on the Derby Field, it also appeared that Daruis was traveling at a high rate of speed.
It was later found the driver of vehicle 2 had several broken bones, including her left femur bone, causing serious bodily injury, and she was flown to a Salt Lake City hospital for further care.
Darius's vehicle was inventoried for state tax impound, and Deputy Mathews located multiple open containers of alcohol.
Officer Bellon spoke with Darius and could tell he was intoxicated. He told Officer Bellon he had drank at least 14-18 beers. He stated that he was at the High School and left the high school to Highway 40 to head westbound. Darius said he could not remember much other than that he was heading westbound on 200 North.
Darius was placed under arrest for DUI causing serious bodily injury, a 3rd-degree felony; leaving the scene of an accident causing serious bodily injury, a 3rd-degree felony; reckless driving, class B misdemeanor, and an open container in a vehicle, a class C misdemeanor.
 Based on the affirmation of Officer  Harrison, the arresting officer, the undersigned magistrate finds that probable cause existed for the arrest without a warrant of Darius Robert Tapoof.
The current offense is Driving Under the Influence or Driving with a Measurable Controlled Substance in the Body that resulted in death or serious bodily injury to an individual. The court finds substantial evidence to support the charge and clear and convincing evidence that the individual would constitute a substantial danger to the community if released.
 Therefore, the court orders that Darius Robert Tapoof is to be held without bail.
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