PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

January 15, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Investigating 2 Separate Hit and Run Crashes, 1 Killed, 2 Other Injured

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating two separate overnight hit-and-run crashes.

“I am very concerned about what is happening on our roadways,” said Chief Mike Brown. “Since Friday, four people have been hurt in our city while crossing the street. And sadly, overnight, a man died when a truck hit him and left him in the street. This is unacceptable.”

“Every day our officers are out talking about and enforcing traffic safety laws,” Chief Brown added. “No matter how you use our roadways, there must be individual responsibility and a personal commitment to safe driving and safe use of our roads.”

The first investigation started at 1:43 a.m. on Sunday January 15, 2023, when SLC911 got information about a person on the ground on 700 East near 500 South. The victim, a 31-year-old man, died on scene. The preliminary investigation shows a dark-colored truck moving southbound on 700 East hit the man in a crosswalk. The driver of the truck did not stop. Based on evidence at the scene, detectives are looking for a smaller, dark-colored Chevy truck with front-end damage. The name of the 31-year-old man is not being released at this time.

The second investigation started at 4:48 a.m. on Sunday January 15, 2023, when SLC911 got information about two people down on the ground near 1300 South West Temple. An off-duty SLCPD lieutenant happened to be in the area and immediately responded. Firefighters with the Salt Lake City Fire Department told SLCPD that based on the injuries, the two people injured had likely been hit and dragged by a vehicle. Additional SLCPD officers responded to the scene. Paramedics transported a 13-year-old and 14-year-old to a hospital. Both had serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The preliminary investigation shows the teens were in a crosswalk when a dark-colored truck driving westbound on 1300 South hit the two teens. The driver of the truck did not stop. Officers found additional evidence from the crash near 245 West 1300 South.

No arrests have been made in either case.

Although the description to both trucks are similar, at this point, detectives do not believe the two cases are related. However, detectives are continuing to investigate both crashes and are reviewing surveillance video.

The crash near 700 East 500 South marks the first traffic-related fatality in Salt Lake City for 2023.

The Crash Analysis Reconstruction (CAR) Team and SLCPD Crime Lab technicians responded to the scene.

The CAR Team is a multi-jurisdictional crash team that investigates crashes involving serious physical injuries or death. Members of the CAR Team receive specialized training in collision examination, speed analysis, vehicle dynamics, occupant kinematics, scene photography, surveying equipment, crash scene mapping, evidence collection and computer aided drawing programs.

The CAR Team includes law enforcement from the Salt Lake City Police Department and several other Salt Lake Valley law enforcement agencies.

Photos from both crash scenes are being released. Media may use these photos with proper credit to the Salt Lake City Police Department.

700 East 500 South:

1300 South West Temple:

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