SALT LAKE CITY — What was supposed to be a preliminary hearing for the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash turned into a proposal for a plea arrangement.
For the proposed plea arrangement, defendant Kimberly Munoz would be placed on 3 years probation and would be able to leave jail once the deal is finalized.
“I’m going to fight to win justice for my little boy. She needs to be locked up. Probation’s not enough,” said Angela Barnett, the victim’s mother.
Munoz was allegedly behind the wheel of a vehicle that struck a stroller carrying 2-year-old Gavyn Barnett on June 10, 2013. The incident occurred on 5600 W near 4100 S around 9:45 p.m.
“The stroller was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound,” said Lt. Matt Elson, West Valley City Police Department, on the night of the incident. “And it knocked the child out of the stroller and onto the road. The fire department came and administered medical aid, and they transported the child to a hospital.”
Gavyn was taken to Primary Children’s Medical Center in extremely critical condition. He died a few hours later.
Police spent several months trying to track down the driver responsible for hitting Gavyn. In November, Munoz’s ex-boyfriend came forward.
“When our officers spoke to him he was a little emotional about it, and maybe that got to him,” said Sgt. Jason Hauer of West Valley City Police.
After speaking with her ex-boyfriend, police spoke with Munoz and said she confessed to the crime. Munoz was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, a third-degree felony.
All parties are due back in court on Monday, January 27.
