Police searching for hit-and-run driver

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

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Andrew Adams and Sandra Yi reporting A teenage girl was hit by a car last night, and no one knows who the driver is because he or she never stopped. The girl was left alone on the side of the road in the area of 1700 North and 1900 West in Salt Lake. Her family talked with Eyewitness News today.

Brandy Bailey is a junior at West High. She was planning to go to a memorial today for classmate Alyssa Lopez, who was killed in a car crash. But now Brandy is recovering from a crash that put her in the hospital.

Our camera was there for Brandy's homecoming from the hospital today. She didn't want us to show her face because she was embarrassed about her injuries.

Brandy was walking home from work around 7:00 last night. She was two blocks from her house when a car hit her as she crossed the street. "She flew quite a distance, and it blew her out of her shoes," explained Steve Bailey, Brandy's father.

Brandy doesn't remember much, but her mother told us about a flashback Brandy had in the hospital. "She thought it was going to stop, and it didn't stop at all, and it just hit her," Kaylene said.

After the crash, a police officer driving in the area saw Brandy bleeding and trying to get up. Tiffany Ericksen also stopped to help. She says cars speed through the intersection all the time. "It's pretty frustrating and scary to think that not only that they would do that, but they probably live in our neighborhood," she said.

Salt Lake City police Lt. Gary Young says, "It's unconscionable that someone would know that they hit a pedestrian and then leave the accident, leave them lying in the roadway; and who knows what happened if medical hadn't got there, if police hadn't got there when they did. I'm hoping that someone can come forward and give us some information on this."

Brandy's parents say it could have been a lot worse.

"I'm just really still in shock and confused that someone can hit a girl, a young girl, an adult, a dog, anything, and just leave them in the road no knowing if they're OK, if they're dead of if they're alive," Kaylene said.

"It's a good neighborhood, but bad things happen even in good neighborhoods," Steve said. "We forgive you, but we would like to know why you haven't come forth yet."

Police found some evidence at the scene, including pieces of a headlight. They hope it can reveal more about the car.

If you have any information, please call Salt Lake City police at 799-3000.