PLEASANT GROVE, Utah — A Cedar Hills man has been charged with manslaughter following a crash in April that killed a 9-year-old boy in Pleasant Grove.
George Parker Hunter was indicted on the manslaughter charge on Friday, along with leaving the scene of an accident involving death charges
Just before 4 p.m. on April 29, Dalton Gibbs was riding his bike along 2600 North when detectives say an 18-year-old driving westbound noticed Gibbs starting to cross 900 West. The teen began making a right-hand turn when he allegedly heard screaming and looked in his rearview mirror to see Gibbs underneath a white Chevrolet truck being driven by Hunter.
The driver jumped out of his vehicle and waved at Hunter, letting him know that there was something underneath his truck. However, Hunter proceeded to keep driving, dragging Gibbs and his bicycle.
Another witness told police, "Underneath the truck was a boy stuck under the truck." That witness explained to the police that initially, Gibbs wasn't completely under the vehicle and was instead being pushed. However, as Hunter continued, the witness stated that Gibbs was sucked up underneath the vehicle.
Investigators say that witnesses attempted to stop Hunter but were unsuccessful as he picked up speed to leave the scene.
Officials said Gibbs was dragged around 50 feet before he became dislodged. Hunter allegedly continued driving with the bicycle being trapped underneath his truck. Parts of the bike were found along 2600 North from 900 West to almost 1140 West, where the bike was found.
Hunter told police that he saw the brake lights of the vehicle in front of him and stopped, adding that he saw the bike underneath the vehicle in front of him, and he believed the driver was waving him to go through.
Court documents claim one officer overheard Hunter telling someone, "I knew I hit a bicycle, but I didn't think there was a kid on it."
When Hunter was driving, he said he could hear a screeching noise and saw a bicycle in the rearview mirror. Hunter allegedly got out of the vehicle and put the bicycle on the curb.
Hunter told officers that he waited at the curb where he left the bike for 7 minutes before he decided that he could continue driving since he didn't hear sirens or see police. However, investigators said surveillance footage in the area showed Hunter waiting less than a minute.
