Victims a no-show at wreck

About 5:20 a.m. on June 8, Carbon County Sheriff deputies and the fire department responded to a vehicle wreck on Jack Creek Road, 1.5 miles west of Saratoga.

Deputies found a wrecked 2001 Ford Escort registered to Lance Roop, of Ryan Park, but could not find those involved in the wreck, Carbon County Sheriff Jerry Colson said.

“It was kind of unusual,” Colson said. “If someone was injured out there, you would suspect them to be in the immediate area.”

Further investigation revealed two were in the vehicle when it crashed, Roop and Jake Hamann, of Saratoga.

A Saratoga resident driving on Jack Creek Road spotted Hamann walking along the side of the road earlier that morning. The resident transported Hamann to the Saratoga Police Department from where he was later brought to Memorial Hospital of Carbon County for treatment.

The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office then got the call reporting the wrecked Ford.

Colson said deputies searched extensively for anyone who may have been in the car.

Roop was later found in Saratoga during the investigation.

“They cleared the area and the next call we had was 2 in the afternoon that Roop was picked up and was headed back to Saratoga,” Colson said.

Once deputies located Roop, he was also transported to MHCC.

An investigation and a wreck re-creation found Roop was most likely driving at the time of the wreck, Colson said. The investigation also discovered alcohol was a factor in the wreck.

Roop was charged with driving while under the influence and will appear in court July 17. Colson said other charges may be pending.