MURRAY, Utah — A 24-year-old man described as a "habitual DUI offender" has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run collision that killed a woman in Murray in July.
Nathan Michael Portillo was taken into custody on Tuesday and faces several charges, including murder and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.
Kimberley Jean Jespersen was in a crosswalk while crossing 4500 South on the east side of State Street just after 11 p.m. on July 31, when police said a gray vehicle made a left turn on a flashing yellow light and hit the 53-year-old woman.
Jespersen was able to get up and was talking to the driver when, a short time later, a 2014 GMC Sierra driven by Portillo approached in the lane where Jespersen and the other vehicle were located. Video footage showed that Portillo only appeared to notice the vehicle at the last minute and swerved to avoid a collision.
Although the vehicle wasn't struck, the truck hit Jespersen, who was taken to the hospital, where she later died. Officials determined Portillo was traveling at least 55 miles per hour at the time of the second collision.
Witnesses told detectives that they had seen Portillo driving the truck prior to the crash and stated that he was heavily intoxicated, speeding, and driving erratically. Police added that Portillo also made threats to a passenger in the truck while driving, saying he would kill them and himself.
The threatened passenger told investigators that they jumped from the truck while it was moving due to the reckless driving.
Portillo, who was driving on a suspended license due to a drug offense, allegedly attempted to avoid detection by repairing the damage to the front of his truck.
Along with the murder charge, Portillo also faces charges for driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, threat of violence, and speeding. He is currently being held without bail, as police claim in court documents that "Nathan is a habitual DUI offender."
Nastasha Dickison is a regular visitor to the Elysian Burial Gardens in Millcreek.
She’s planted lights, laid flowers and even thought of decorations like a Dallas Cowboys flag for her mother’s plot as they await a headstone.
“Just all the little things that you don’t realize you miss, or remind you of somebody,” said Dickison.
She takes comfort in these little things, but Dickison always left with a big question.
“Why? Why?” she repeated.
“How could you do that?” added Jespersen’s sister, Shilee Cox.
She asks because on the night of July 31st - someone hit Jespersen in the intersection of 45th South and State Street and left her to die.
Two months of waiting was almost too much to bear.
“Yea, I followed a few trucks, too. I have - it’s an emotional rollercoaster,” Dickison said.
Now they have a suspect - 24-year-old Nathan Portillo was arrested by Murray Police.
“We’re very thankful and grateful for them,” said Cox in reference to the police and their tireless efforts.
But the moment is bittersweet for these women as multiple families must now bear this terrible burden.
“It doesn’t bring her back,” Cox said. “I thought it would just be some great feeling, take the weight off. It doesn’t.”
Police say her mother had already been hit by another driver, and she was stopped to talk with them when Dickison allegedly struck her again.
As Dickison hopes to find more peace in visits like these, she also hopes all drivers will be more vigilant on the roads.
“No one involved in or witnesses to such a horrific incident should ever choose to drive away,” Dickison said. “As a community and a society - we must do better.”
