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SANDY — A motorcyclist died in a collision with an SUV in Sandy early Sunday and the driver of the SUV fled the scene, the Sandy Police Department said.
The driver of the SUV, identified as Joseph Christian Ornelas, 21, was traveling about 20 to 25 mph at 1 a.m. Sunday when he struck a motorcycle that was stopped at a red light at 7591 S. Union Park Ave, said Lt. Dean Carriger with the Sandy Police Department.
Ornelas did not give any aid to the motorcyclist, police said. Ornelas "fled the scene following the collision," Carriger said.
Ornelas then parked the SUV in a residential neighborhood and then walked with the passenger of the SUV to a Del Taco, police said. Ornelas then called the police, Carriger said.
When police arrived at the scene of the collision, the motorcyclist was found dead. The identity of the motorcyclist has not been publicly released.
Ornelas, who is an alcohol-restricted driver and had a warrant issued for a previous DUI, was ultimately arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. He was allegedly driving a friend's vehicle, according to police.
Ornelas was booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in a death, a second degree felony, failing to remain at an accident involving death, a third degree felony, driving while on a suspended driver's license that was alcohol-related, a misdemeanor and driving as an alcohol-restricted driver, a misdemeanor, court documents state.
The investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the collision, but "obviously, the driving while intoxicated was a contributing factor to the accident" Carriger said.
