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SALT LAKE CITY — Criminal charges were filed Wednesday against a man who police say hit two pedestrians — killing one — then drove off and stayed quiet while his friend was arrested and charged with the crime.
Richard Daniel Bice, 56, of Salt Lake City, is charged in 3rd District Court with failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving death and failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious injury, third-degree felonies; and obstruction of justice, a class A misdemeanor.
About 11:45 p.m. on March 9, Michael Corby Westover, 42, of Salt Lake City, and Corey Wilkerson were crossing 3300 South in a crosswalk near Main Street when a Chevy Trailblazer ran a red light and hit them both, according to charging documents. Both victims were transported to a local hospital where Westover died and Wilkerson was treated for head injuries, according to police. The Trailblazer drove off after the crash.
On April 2, Ryan Conrad Kidrick, 40, was arrested in connection with the incident and later charged in 3rd District Court.
But a few weeks later, Bice, the owner of the vehicle, contacted police stating that he wanted to turn himself in, the charges state.
"Bice told (the detective) he couldn't let 'Ryan burn,'" according to charging documents, while adding, "He thought if he rode it out, Kidrick would be set free because he knew Kidrick was not the driver."
Bice said he was "scared" the night of the crash because he was driving on a denied license and had been using methadone, the charges state. He said he returned to the scene later, but when he saw police, he "realized he must have hit a person."
Bice then gave Kidrick the coat he was wearing that night and asked him to hide it, the charges state. Kidrick was released from the Salt Lake County Jail on Friday and the two charges of hitting the two pedestrians were dropped. He still faces a charge of obstructing justice, a class A misdemeanor.
