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SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah man died while taking part in a popular relay race in Las Vegas over the weekend. He was hit by a suspected drunk driver while he was supporting a fellow teammate in a Ragnar relay race.
The Las Vegas race is a 24-hour relay race where teams of 12 take turns running. The teams were supposed to run 180 miles from Valley of Fire State Park to the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas, but one team didn't make it to the finish line because their teammate, 33-year-old Jeremy Kunz, was hit and killed.
"We rolled up the hill and there was a lot of dust, and you could just kind of sense something was wrong," Hyde said. "Then we stopped the car and realized what had happened, and it was a tough situation."
Hyde has run several other Ragnar Relays, including the Wasatch Back, but he said his team just couldn't finish the Vegas relay.
"After that had happened, our thoughts were elsewhere; and we just, we loaded up and got back to our families," Hyde said.
On Facebook Monday, many other Ragnar runners are offering their condolences. One team wrote: "We are praying for Jeremy and his family. We were right behind the accident. Our hearts break for you!"
Police caught the driver, Joshua Salayich of Henderson, and arrested him. He is charged with driving under the influence resulting in death, as well as leaving the scene of an accident.
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Story compiled with contributions from Amanda Butterfield and KSL News producer Mindy Dunyon
