Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — The search continued Monday for a driver who hit and killed a teen skateboarder.
The victim of the hit-and-run was identified by police Monday afternoon as Joseph Martinez, 16, of Ogden. Martinez was riding his skateboard about 10:40 p.m. in the 200 West block of 17th Street when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle, according to Ogden Police Lt. Kevin Cottrell. That driver fled the scene.
"Sometime" later, a second driver, a 43-year-old man, reportedly saw something in the roadway but was unable to avoid impact, and Martinez was hit a second time, Cottrell said.
The second man stopped and called 911. Emergency personnel responded and Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.
As of Monday, police had not found any witnesses to the incident.
"No one saw it that has come forward yet, Cottrell said.
Our information leads us to believe, had he stopped he may or may not have even been charged for this one. But since he left, it enhanced the charge.
–Ogden Police Lt. Kevin Cottrell
By fleeing from the scene, he said the driver of the first vehicle now faces possible felony charges.
"Our information leads us to believe, had he stopped he may or may not have even been charged for this one. But since he left, it enhanced the charge," Cottrell said.
That driver should have a vehicle with "some type of front end damage," he said. Cottrell also noted that some undisclosed evidence was collected at the scene.
Family's reaction to the accident
Lana Gale, Joe's grandmother, remembers Joe as a good kid but his 16-years of life were difficult. Joe used skateboarding as a means to get away. She watched him at age 10 take his first ride.
"Our son was a skater also," Gale said.
Skating was a passion that both Joe and his father shared.
"He was there to help him and to teach him and to teach him about the accident," Gale said.
Joe's father was also hurt as a teenager in a skateboarding accident.
"It was a bad one, and he didn't want that happening to Joe," Gale said.
However, on the way home Joe was hit by a vehicle. The driver didn't stop.
"They ran it's so gutless. Whoever it is, it is going to be with them their entire life," Gale said.
Anyone with information can call police at 801-629-8221.
