Man arrested after crash leads to carjacking attempt, police say

SOUTH JORDAN -- A 29-year-old man, Bernardo Abel Diaz, was arrested in South Jordan on Thursday following a crash where he allegedly attempted to flee by carjacking another vehicle. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on multiple charges, including aggravated robbery and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

According to police, Diaz ran a red light while traveling at an estimated speed of 50-60 mph in a 35-mph zone. The incident occurred at the intersection of 10600 South and Jordan Gateway, where he collided with another vehicle after swerving around a stopped car.

After the crash, Diaz exited his vehicle and reportedly approached another driver, attempting to forcibly remove a woman from her car. She described the ordeal to officers, stating that he grabbed her by the neck and arm, demanding to escape from the scene. Fortunately, a paramedic at the location distracted him, allowing the woman to drive away.

Diaz's behavior escalated as he jumped onto the hood of another car just before police arrived. Officers had to deploy a Taser to subdue him, as he appeared disoriented with pinpoint pupils and was unable to communicate coherently about the situation, often babbling about people pursuing him.

In the aftermath, a young girl in the vehicle that Diaz had hit was taken to a local hospital to treat her "moderate" injuries. The incident highlights the dangers of reckless driving and the chaos that can follow an accident.