Driver crashes into West Valley City home, reportedly offers witnesses money to not call police

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) — A driver who crashed a box truck into a West Valley City home, leaving a large crack in its garage, reportedly offered money to witnesses if they didn’t call police, according to court documents.

The crash happened Thursday, May 23, shortly after 7:30 p.m. at a home near 5400 South and 5600 West. West Valley City Police responded to the area following a report of a truck that crashed into the home and the driver was believed to be intoxicated.

Officers arrived to find a large box truck had collided with the home, causing substantial damage. Officers say they saw a male, later identified as Matthew Hammick, 36, walking away from the suspect vehicle.

Police said he failed to comply with verbal commands and instead began to run away. After a short foot pursuit, an officer captured Hammick and took him into custody. He was then taken to a local hospital for a DUI investigation, while other officers investigated the scene of the accident.

According to police, a building inspector “condemned the garage portion of the residence, but advised the rest of it was still habitable.”

Hammick was booked into jail on several charges, including three counts of third-degree felony aggravated assualt, Class A misdemanor of driving under the influence, and failure to stop at command of law enforcement officer.

According to a probable cause statement, Hammick had “red glossy eyes, the strong and persistent odor of alcohol on his breath when he spoke and he had very slow/slurred/deliberate speech pattern.”

The affidavit said there were multiple witnesses at the scene of the crash, to which Hammick offered money to not call the police. Reportedly, witnesses attempted to have him remain on scene as he was trying to flee in the vehicle. They reported he began accelerating, three witnesses in front of the vehicle were afraid they would be run over. One of them entered the passenger side of the vehicle and turned off the engine, which is when Hammick attempted to flee on foot.

Hammick has prior felony cases, including previous DUI’s. According to the probable cause statement, he is an alcohol-restricted driver and is required to have an ignition interlock device installed, which he didn’t have on the vehicle.

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