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MIDVALE — A West Jordan woman suspected in a fatal hit-and-run crash has been charged in connection with the incident.
Unified police believe Mika Lindquist, 31, hit and killed Ronald Charles Renfro, 56, while he was crossing 7200 South at 50 West on Sept. 24.
On Thursday, Lindquist was charged in 3rd District Court with leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a third-degree felony, theft pursuant to a rental agreement, a second-degree felony, and obstructing justice, a third-degree felony.
Lindquist said "the sun was in her eyes" and she felt her rental Ford Escape hit something, according to charging documents.
"She stopped and got out of her car and looked back to see a group of people around what she hit and realized it was a person she had hit," the charges state. After Lindquist realized she had hit a person, police say, she got back in her car and drove off.
After police released Lindquist's name to the media, she contacted them and told them the car was abandoned at an apartment complex in Taylorsville, according to the charges. But detectives could not find it there.
On Oct. 1, the vehicle was found in Sandy where witnesses told police Lindquist had abandoned it on Sept. 26. "The car's license plate had been modified to present as a different plate number," according to the charges.
Lindquist was supposed to return the rental car on Sept. 8 but called Enterprise on Sept. 11 claiming it had been stolen, the charges state.
Lindquist has been charged 10 times in various justice and district courts since November for mainly traffic violations, including failing to register her vehicle and speeding. She was charged with drug possession and failing to register her vehicle in March. She failed to appear for a preliminary hearing in that case on Sept. 10 and a warrant was issued for her arrest, according to court records.
She was also charged with shoplifting in Salt Lake City Justice Court, according to court records.
Unified police have also filed a complaint for forfeiture as they seek more than $2,800 in alleged drug money found in Lindquist's car three days before she obtained a rental car.
She was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail last week.
