SALT LAKE CITY -- A man died after being hit by a vehicle in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
Unified Police Det. Ken Hansen says a man, identified as Raymond Nielson, 59, from the South Salt Lake area, was crossing 700 East near 3065 South in Salt Lake City at around 6:30 p.m. when he was hit and dragged by a vehicle.
Nielson was not in the crosswalk at the time of the incident. Witness said he was in one of the middle lanes of the road.
He was taken to the hospital, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Neilson was a veteran who was about to celebrate his 60th birthday.
Nielson's brother said they would visit three or four times a week at the brother's home just a block from where the accident occurred. He said Raymond was very careful about cross the street and this must have been a tragic accident.
Hansen says the driver, a man in his late 60s, left the scene of the crash then parked his vehicle a distance from the crash and returned to the scene on foot.
"The wheelchair was also pulling another cart, or pushing a cart, and it looks like one of those objects went under the vehicle, caused an oil leak and that's what made the vehicle stop," said Det. Ken Hansen, Unified Police Department.
Detectives are questioning the driver and conducting an investigation. They are investigating the incident as a fatal hit-and-run even though the driver returned to the scene of the crash.
