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Santaquin police Sergeant Bill Hooser died after hit by a semi-truck during traffic stop on I-15
Hooser is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons-in-law, and his recently born granddaughter.
The Santaquin police officer fatally struck by a suspect driving a semi-truck on I-15 has been identified as Sgt. Bill Hooser.
A GoFundMe campaign, verified by Utah Sen. Mike McKell, has been set up to support Hooser’s family.
As per the fundraiser, Hooser is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons-in-law, and his recently born granddaughter.
On Sunday morning, Hooser lost his life following reports of an individual standing on the back of a semi-trailer as it traveled northbound on I-15 in Santaquin.
Hooser, alongside a Utah Highway Patrol trooper, responded to the scene and located the semi shortly before 6:30 a.m.
During a traffic stop, authorities recounted that the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Michael Aaron Jayne, reversed in the wrong direction, resulting in the collision that claimed Hooser’s life and damaged both patrol vehicles.
Afterward, he reportedly fled on foot and then purportedly stole a white Ford truck.
Jayne later crashed the truck during a pursuit in the Vernal area and was apprehended by authorities.
Following this incident, a shelter-in-place order was issued for several cities as the search for Jayne unfolded.
