Arrest made in Wasatch Boulevard hit-and-run


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SALT LAKE COUNTY -- Salt Lake County sheriff's investigators say they've arrested the man they believe is responsible for hitting a bicyclist last week, then driving away.

Twenty-eight-year-old Nicholas T. Murdock of Millcreek is now in jail, charged with leaving the scene of an accident, tampering with evidence, and obstruction of justice.

A 57-year-old man was hit while riding his bicycle near 6200 South on Wasatch Boulevard Thursday, March 19.

Witnesses say the driver who hit him got out of his car, along with a female passenger, checked on the bicyclist, then got back in the car and sped away.

Lt. Don Hutson, spokesman for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, says Murdock was caught after investigators re-interviewed several witnesses who saw the accident.

One witness told police he was a BMW aficionado and knew for a fact the car the suspect was driving was a 335i BMW because of the dual exhaust the car had on it.

Hutson says BMW doesn't make that many cars which feature dual exhaust systems.

Another witness told police she was able to read the expiration sticker on the car's license plate and gave that information to detectives.

Investigators learned there are about 200 335i BMW's in Utah, but using the sticker expiration, color, and the description of the driver, were able to narrow that car down to a few.

Once investigators had addresses to work with, they used Google Earth and Google Maps to try and get more information on where those addresses are relative to where the hit-and-run happened.

Detectives were surprised when they put one of the addresses into Google Earth and saw the exact model of car they were looking for from a satellite photograph taken months ago.

They went to the address and talked to Murdock. Hutson said Murdock's response was "you caught me."

Deputies say Murdock has been very cooperative in the investigation and basically told investigators he drove away because he was scared.

His BMW was hidden in a nearby relative's garage. When detectives looked at the car, they said there was damage to the car consistent with hitting someone.

Investigators aren't sure if any charges will be filed against his female passenger, whose name has not been released.

Investigators are still determining if the relatives who had the BMW in their garage will face charges, because they might not have known why Murdock wanted them to keep his car there.

The 57-year-old who was hit was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Hutson says the man is still in the hospital, but has been upgraded to stable condition.

E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com

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