Deputies were searching this week for the owner of a red 1977 Honda Civic that struck a bicyclist on Kilby Road Sunday evening, authorities say.
The alleged victim, Salt Lake resident Franklin David Beer, 36, was reportedly riding a bicycle westbound near Elk Meadows apartments in the Snyderville Basin on Oct. 23 when the car hit him from behind, injuring his back and bloodying his nose. The driver fled the scene and detectives say the car’s owner, Basin resident Jose Vazquez, 20, is a person of interest in the case.
“Anybody that might have any information that could shed some light on that, we would sure appreciate the call,” Summit County sheriff’s Captain Joe Offret said. “We’d sure like to hear from [Vazquez], or anybody who knows him, or knows where we might locate him.”
Deputies impounded Vazquez’s car Sunday after they located it in a parking lot at Elk Meadows apartments, 2627 W. Kilby Road, where the man is believed to reside, he said, adding that no arrest warrants have been issued.
“It has substantial damage to the hood and windshield,” Offret said. “It looks like either the bicycle or the bicyclist went up on the vehicle.”
A motorist may leave the scene after dinging another car in a parking lot, but violent hit-and-run crashes in Summit County are rare, he said, adding that the driver could face felony charges.
“Witnesses gave our deputies a description of the vehicle and then the deputies fanned out in an attempt to locate the vehicle,” Offret said, adding that Vazquez’s name was taken from the car’s registration. “They ended up not being able to locate him and impounded the vehicle as evidence.”
No one had contacted the Sheriff’s Office this week to claim the car.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to identify the driver at some point,” Offret said. “Normally, when you get hit from behind, you don’t see what hit you.”
The man was taken to University of Utah Health Sciences Center where he was in fair condition this week.