SALT LAKE CITY – Police are searching for a driver who allegedly left the scene after causing an accident that left a child in critical condition and injured another Thursday night.
The crash occurred on I-215 near 1300 West at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, and witnesses reported seeing a truck that was weaving down the road with its lights off before it hit the back corner of another car.
According to information from the Utah Highway Patrol, the car that was struck was sent into a barrier. It bounced back from the barrier into traffic, and Sgt. Wyatt Weber of the Utah Highway Parol said it was fortunate the car was not struck by other vehicles.
“This car went all the way and struck the right wall and then spun and ended up where you see it now in two and three lanes,” he said. “It’s possible that after it struck that wall it would have had no headlights or anything to indicate that it was now in the lane of traffic, so we did get lucky on that.”
Troopers said there were four children and two adults in the vehicle that was hit, and they said none of the children were in proper booster or children’s car seats. Two of the children were taken to a hospital. One of the children was in critical condition. Officials said the second child was hurt but didn’t provide specific details about the child’s condition.
Utah Highway Patrol troopers are asking for the public’s help locating the driver who left the scene. The vehicle is described as a truck that is dark (witnesses stated it appeared to be either black or dark green). The vehicle will be damaged on the passenger-side front bumper. Police stated the truck was also pulling a utility trailer with some sort of lockbox.
Anyone with information about the vehicle or the crash is asked to call UHP at 801-887-3800.
