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Amanda Butterfield reporting Could the death of this woman's husband have been avoided? She doesn't know, and that's what police are trying to figure out.
A car hit and killed a former University of Utah professor a week ago. The driver took off. Now investigators are hoping a guilty conscience will make the driver turn themself in.
It happened as Robert Elbel was getting off the bus headed home, which is only about a block away, when he was hit. The family is trying to move on. They laid him to rest last night.
By the amount of cards and flowers around the fireplace, you can tell Robert Elbel will be missed, and many hope he will rest in peace.
But peace may be hard to come by for his widow, Lyda.
Lyda Elbel/Widow: "I just don't think we'll find the guy."
Here's why: No one got the liscense plate number, or a clear description of the car or driver that hit Elbel, or at least no one investigators have talked to -- leaving them with little to work on.
Sgt. Paul Jaroscak: "We're clearly at a point where we're running into dead ends."
Sgt. Jaroscak says it's true hitting someone could scare you away from the scene, and even keep you from talking for a while. But it's been over a week.
Sgt. Paul Jaroscak: "I would think it would weigh heavily on your conscience."
Unless a witness with a solid account comes forward, or the driver comes forward, Lyda's only chance at peace is with investigators.
Sgt. Paul Jaroscak: "You know, we'll just keep digging."
If police find the driver, they could charge him or her with automobile homicide.
