Surveillance footage shows hit-and-run; woman narrowly survives

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KEARNS — After spending three weeks in the hospital, a woman who narrowly survived a hit-and-run crash in Kearns is asking for the community's help in identifying the suspects.

"I don't remember it at all because I was knocked out on impact," said Tamyah Salazar.

Though Salazar has few memories of what happened, the injuries she suffered are all too evident.

"I had to be dragged out of the car; they thought I was dead," she said.

Surveillance footage captures the July 21 incident in Kearns on 5400 S. 4163 West at 12:05 a.m.

"A suspect vehicle which is heading westbound on 5400 South ... and the victim vehicle is coming eastbound," said Sgt. Aymee Race, spokesperson for the Unified Police Department.

The footage shows a red car that appears to lose control, hit a pole, jump a median, and crash into the car that Salazar and two friends were in.

"We think they were speeding," Salazar said.

But that's not the worst of it. The incident was a literal hit-and-run. All three people inside the red car ran away, leaving the car behind.

"From what we've been able to gather, there were three individuals, two males and one female," Race said.

Salazar was hospitalized for more than three weeks.

"I have fractures on my face and my sinuses. I have a brain injury. I have fractured ribs — four of them — a fractured spine. My neck is fractured. I had a spleen bleed," she said.

Tamyah Salazar, 25, speaks on Thursday about the hit-and-run crash in Kearns on July 21 which seriously injured her and two friends.
Tamyah Salazar, 25, speaks on Thursday about the hit-and-run crash in Kearns on July 21 which seriously injured her and two friends. (Photo: KSL-TV)

Her two friends also suffered bruising and a few broken bones, not to mention the emotional toll.

"Mentally, just really bad anxiety being in cars … all three of us are having a hard time," Salazar said. "I feel like they left us for dead. They didn't care."

Unified police have information on the red car but are asking for the community's help in identifying the three suspects.

"If you know who the individuals are, you can always remain anonymous. If it is you, please come forward. There are individuals involved in this who have significant injuries, and they deserve justice and answers," Race said.

If you have information on the suspects or witnessed the incident, please contact Unified police. The dispatch line is 801-840-4000.

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Garna Mejia, KSLGarna Mejia
Garna Mejia is a reporter for KSL. Garna is happiest when she can be “out in the field” working on stories that matter to the community. She has always been curious about her surroundings and world events. A journalism class changed her life as she found her passion in connecting with people. Garna’s experience includes working as a bilingual reporter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the CBS/Telemundo Wisconsin affiliate, anchoring for NBC’s KYMA News 11 in Yuma, Arizona and sister stations Fox News 39 and Univision Laredo in southern Texas. Mejia’s introduction to the newsroom came through her zeal for data, research and information gathering on social media platforms. It was her knack for audience engagement that kick-started her career at CNN Latino Phoenix and later Telemundo Arizona where she designed and implemented successful social media campaigns. Garna’s unique name means “gladly” and “willingly” in Swedish. She was named after a dear family friend, Garna Randall. She enjoys spending her free time with friends and family, especially her five nieces and two nephews. If you have a story idea, you can always reach her at her email.
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