A lawsuit accusing a Unified Police Department officer of colliding with a civilian's car during a 2020 pursuit-related response in West Jordan is heading back to district court, after a Utah appellate panel found too many unresolved questions to let the case die on summary judgment. The Utah Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's dismissal of the case on September 11, ruling that disputed facts about whether the officer had properly functioning emergency lights and sirens must be sorted out by a jury, not decided as a matter of law.
The case, formally covered in a decision reported by ABC4 Utah, traces back to a crash at the intersection of 7000 South and 1300 West in August 2020. UPD officer Ethan Andrus was reportedly traveling southbound on 1300 West when he struck a vehicle driven by Armando Ayala, who had passenger Ashlie Mauger with him, according to the outlet. Ayala and Mauger later sued Andrus and UPD for injuries sustained in the crash.
According to court records detailed by Justia Law, UPD officers were attempting to get ahead of a fleeing suspect to deploy tire-deflating spike strips during an inter-agency pursuit when the collision occurred. Two other UPD officers had already crossed the intersection before Andrus arrived — one turning left, another slowing to a creep before proceeding — which, per the same court records, led Ayala to believe the intersection was clear before he entered on what he believed was a green light.
Dueling Accounts of Lights and Sirens
At the center of the dispute is whether Andrus had adequate emergency lights and audible sirens activated at the time of the crash. Andrus reportedly said his siren was activated and that he had emergency lights on, while one of the other responding officers reportedly had both emergency lights and sirens activated. But court documents note that sirens heard at the scene may have belonged to those other responding officers rather than Andrus himself.
Ayala and Mauger reportedly presented a disciplinary report indicating Andrus had violated several emergency driving provisions, including requirements to reduce speed at all street intersections and to maintain a safe and reasonable speed at intersections controlled by red lights or stop signs, per that disciplinary report. UPD, in its initial arguments, said Andrus drove in accordance with applicable requirements, including activating emergency lights and siren and acting reasonably and prudently.
Why the Original Dismissal Didn't Hold Up
The lawsuit was previously dismissed. Ayala and Mauger appealed that decision, arguing they had shown genuine issues of material fact that should have prevented dismissal.
The appellate panel agreed, finding that summary judgment requires no genuine dispute of material fact and that UPD had failed to establish its entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. The court noted that the district court had stated UPD established the relevant facts but reportedly did not explain how it had done so.
The Legal Standard Governing Police Immunity
The appellate court discussed Utah's requirements for emergency-vehicle sirens, including that they be audible under normal conditions from at least 500 feet, according to Justia Law's account of the ruling.
The court considered whether Andrus met the requirements applicable to his response. Because UPD carried the burden of proving governmental immunity, the court found multiple disputes of material fact that precluded concluding the department was immune from suit as a matter of law.
What Happens to the Disciplinary Report Now
An internal UPD disciplinary report is part of the case record.
Importantly, reversing summary judgment does not establish liability against UPD or Andrus. It simply restores the lawsuit to the district court's trial docket, where a jury or other fact-finder will now have to weigh the disputed facts about lights, sirens, and speed at the intersection.
UPD's Role in the Case
The Unified Police Department is one of the defendants in the lawsuit.
The case also lands amid broader statewide scrutiny of traffic safety. Preliminary 2025 data from the Utah Department of Public Safety and Utah Department of Transportation shows Utah recorded 264 traffic fatalities in 2025 — the lowest statewide total since 2019, according to Steele Adams Hosman.
