Investigators Continue to Search for Two Hit and Run Suspects

Investigators Continue to Search for Two Hit and Run Suspects


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Sandra Yi Reporting Investigators believe the drivers didn't have insurance or that they might have had a warrant, which is why they didn't stop.

One hit and killed an 80-year old college professor.

Another, left a 13-year old boy, bleeding on the side of the road.

Dmitry Ponder is in serious condition here at Primary Children's Medical Center.

Another hit and run victim, Robert Elbel, didn't even make it to the hospital.

What's worse, is the people who hit them, are still out there.

Salt Lake County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Schoenfeld: "We have a 13-year-old child fighting for his life at Primary Children's hospital right now. We have a family who lost a father, a community who lost a great scientist at the University of Utah. Two very big cases for us. We want to solve both of them."

But getting answers hasn't been easy. The cases are eerily similar and the only ones Schoenfeld hasn't solved, in his five years as a major accident investigator for Salt Lake County.

Mike Schoenfeld: "It's very frustrating. There's somebody out there who knows what happened other than the driver, there always is."

Two days ago Dmitry Ponder was hit by a car as he rode his skateboard to school. It was dark, but a man, scraping ice off his windshield heard the crash, and saw a white minivan.

Mike Schoenfeld: "He turns around. He sees the white minivan back up to where the young man is laying in the road, and then leaves westbound."

Witnesses also saw a car leave, after hitting 80-year old Robert Elbel, as he tried to cross the street at 3450 S. Highland Drive a year ago. Investigators hope a 10-thousand dollar reward announced last week, will generate new leads.

Mike Schoenfeld: "Both of these cases, we don't have any physical evidence left by the vehicle at the scene. We don't have a piece of headlight glass or vehicle grill or bumper."

He says there was so much blood on Elbel's clothes, investigators couldn't find any evidence of car paint on them.

In Magna investigators vacuumed the street and will sift through the vacuum bag for paint chips or other evidence.

Right now, their best lead will come from the public.

Investigators aren't giving up. Neither are the victim's families.

Robert Elbel's Daughter, Ruth Vayo (December 1st): "You think about it every day. You kind of drive down the street and wonder if one of those people could be the one."

Dmitry's Father, Dan Ponder: "Just do the right thing and turn yourself in. And, I just don't understand how they can sleep at night."

Neither victim was in a crosswalk and investigators say, the drivers who hit them likely wouldn't have faced any criminal charges had they stopped.

If you have any information on either case, call the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.

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