Utah driver hits speeds of 123 mph while trying to impress passenger, police say

LEHI, Utah (ABC4) — A driver in Utah County was taken into custody on Monday night after getting caught at speeds over 120 miles per hour on I-15 in an alleged attempt to impress his passenger.

Ethan Zachary Shuptrine, 21, was booked into the Utah County Jail on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, speed exhibition on a highway, driving on a suspended or revoked license, and an infraction for failure to display a license plate.

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper reported spotting a blue Chevrolet Corvette driving at 97 miles per hour down southbound I-15 near Lehi and the Point of the Mountain. The trooper said by the time he caught up to the Corvette, the driver, later identified as Shuptrine, had slowed down to around the 70 miles per hour speed limit.

Shortly after, Shuptrine allegedly "rapidly increased" his speed to up to 123 miles per hour.

The trooper caught up with Shuptrine again and initiated a traffic stop. When asked if he was trying to "show off" for his passenger, Shuptrine allegedly agreed that was the reason for his speed.

According to a booking affi...