Prosecutors are seeking death penalty for man accused of killing police officer with 18-wheeler

Utah County plans to seek the death penalty against a semi-truck driver for the murder of a police officer earlier this year.

Officials will seek the death penalty against Michael Aaron Jayne, 42, after he was charged with aggravated murder, according to documents filed Oct. 2 by Utah District Attorney Jeffrey Gray.

Jayne is accused of intentionally fatally assaulting Santaquin police officer Sgt. Bill Hooser with his semi-truck.

On May 5, 2024, Jayne was driving a semi-truck northbound on I-15 when he was pulled over for a traffic stop in Santaquin. During the traffic stop, a passenger got out of the taxi and told police she was being held against her will.

As Hooser and Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Dustin Griffiths prepared to arrest Jayne, he allegedly drove away from the traffic stop, then made a U-turn and drove toward the troopers and the female passenger, ultimately hitting Hooser and sending him into a patrol car the police pressed.

Hooser died at the scene.

Jayne fled the scene, stole another semi-truck and two Ford pickups and drove to Vernal. There he led police on a high-speed chase before being brought to a stop by a police officer using a PIT maneuver. He was taken into police custody.

Other charges against Jayne include attempted murder against law enforcement, attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping, felony evading, three counts of vehicle theft and aggravated burglary, KSL reports.