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GARLAND, Box Elder County — Authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating the driver who they believe struck a 54-year-old man walking along state Route 30 early Friday morning.
Dispatchers received a call from a passerby about 5:15 a.m. Friday saying a man had been hit by a vehicle on the highway near Garland, according to Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Lawrence Hopper.
UHP troopers responded and found the injured man who was then transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Based on the extent of his injuries, troopers believe the man was hit by either a semitruck, a large pickup truck or a van, Hopper said.
Two hours earlier, authorities had received a call reporting a single vehicle crash involving a GMC pickup truck near the border of Riverside and Collinston in Box Elder County. Officers who responded to the scene found the pickup truck but were unable to locate its driver after searching for nearly 40 minutes, Hopper said.
Susie Harper identified the victim as her father, Joe Harper, and said he may have crashed his truck into a pole after a flat tire caused him to lose control of the car that Friday morning.
Joe Harper didn’t have a cellphone on him so his family believes he decided to walk in search of help, his daughter said. The elder Harper was eventually struck by a car along state Route 30.
Highway patrol troopers did not confirm any of these details, including the victim's identity. As of Sunday night, they would only say that the man who was struck was 54. The man was wearing dark clothing, so officials believe it’s possible whoever struck him did not realize they hit a person, Hopper said.
Harper’s family isn’t seeking to press charges against the driver, Susie Harper said, but is asking for him or her to come forward and explain what happened.
The family has set up a fundraiser account on Facebook* to help with medical costs.
Anyone with information on the crash can contact the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office at 435-734-3800.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
