By Tracie Sullivan, for Iron County Today
A 23-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy were arrested late Sunday night after reportedly racing each other at speeds up to 120 mph on Interstate 15 in Iron County.
Deanna Marie Ballough, 23, was booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on June 16, on multiple charges, including engaging in a speed contest on a highway, reckless driving, and operating a vehicle without insurance.
The driver of the other vehicle, a 17-year-old male, was also charged however, due to his status as a minor, his charges are unknown.
According to the probable cause statement filed in 5th District Court, the incident began shortly after 11 p.m. when a Utah Highway Patrol trooper observed two vehicles speeding past his stationary patrol car near mile marker 63.
At the time, the trooper was monitoring traffic from the median and immediately pulled out to follow the vehicles after noting their extremely high speed. As the officer caught up to the cars, he said they slowed to approximately 95 mph but appeared to be engaged in a race.
The vehicles, identified as a black Volkswagen Jetta and a Toyota Scion, allegedly continued this pattern of leapfrogging each other, at times accelerating to dangerous speeds.
“As I was catching up to the vehicles, I observed that they appeared to be racing each other. One vehicle would start to pass the other vehicle,” the affidavit stated. “The other vehicle would accelerate and catch up to the other vehicle. At one point I was pacing both vehicles. One was a black Volkswagen Jetta, the other one a Toyota Scion. As I was pacing both vehicles, they accelerated to 120 MPH while trying to race each other.
At this point, the trooper activated his emergency lights, prompting both vehicles to pull to the right and come to a stop. The drivers were cooperative and complied with the trooper’s instructions, the affidavit stated.
Ballough reportedly told the officer she had no excuse for racing, while the juvenile driver claimed he was trying to get away from the other car. Neither vehicle attempted to elude law enforcement once the trooper activated his emergency lights, the affidavit stated.
Ballough has since been released after posting a $750 unsecured bond. The 17-year-old was released to his parents and will face criminal charges in 5th District Juvenile Court.