A man was killed early Wednesday morning when he was struck by a vehicle while in a crosswalk. The accident occurred at 500 S. Main in Salt Lake City when the man apparently was walking against the traffic light and was hit by a vehicle, throwing his body more than 60 feet into the intersection. According to witnesses, the driver of the vehicle continued to the end of the block, left his/her car for a moment, and then got back into the car and fled the scene of the accident.
While at first this incident appeared to just be an accident, with possibly no charges being filed, the hit-and-run driver now faces almost certain charges for leaving the scene of the accident. With a steady stream of cars in the area at the time, and ample video camera footage of the surroundings, police hope to find the driver of the vehicle.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the man killed. While though probably not at fault for the accident, the driver of the vehicle owes it to the family of the deceased to come forward and acknowledge him/herself as the party involved.
Fatal accidents in Utah, whether involving pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists, cause immense pain to the family of the deceased. Hit-and-run accidents are especially difficult for families to overcome, often struggling for some time before finding closure, if achieved at all. Through our Hit and Run Reward program, we encourage witnesses of the accident to report pertinent information regarding the accident and thus help keep our streets safe.