Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
KEARNS — Police are asking for the public's help in locating a man who they said is a person of interest in the hit-and-run crash that killed a 19-year-old Sunday afternoon.
The collision occurred just after 2:30 p.m. near 4710 S. 4015 West, according to Unified police Lt. Lex Bell. A group of three motorcyclists were pulling out of a gas station and the third rider, Edgar Osvaldo Frayre-Rodriguez, 19, was "kind of wobbly" coming out of the station, witnesses told police. Analysis of the accident indicated that Frayre-Rodriguez made a wide turn out of the gas station, driving into the northbound lane where he was hit head-on by an oncoming Jeep Cherokee, Bell said.
Frayre-Rodriguez was killed upon impact. Investigators were looking at inexperience as a possible factor. Rodriguez's friends said he had just purchased the motorcycle on Saturday.
The maroon Jeep fled the scene of the accident with a flat tire caused by the collision, Bell said. Detectives began checking tire shops and gas stations and eventually found the abandoned vehicle at a Chevron near 3800 West and Bangerter Highway, Bell said.
"Early scene analysis indicates that the Jeep probably was not at fault," Bell said. "However, because it fled the scene of a fatal accident, the driver of that Jeep is now facing possibly serious criminal charges."
Investigators have identified Tyler Hurt, 24, as the owner of the Jeep involved in the crash and are calling him a person of interest. As of Monday, Bell said he is considered a person of interest until detectives can confirm whether he was the driver. Hurt's description, however, matches the description given by witnesses of the driver in the fatal crash very closely, he said.
Investigators do not believe Hurt has been in the area very long. Bell said detectives also do not believe he has a valid Utah driver's license, but weren't sure Monday if he had a license from another state.
Investigators on Sunday were able to find the house where Hurt had been living in a basement. Other residents in the house told police they had not seen him since Sunday afternoon and confirmed he drove a maroon Jeep, Bell said.
Police also found Hurt's Facebook page on Sunday, but it was deleted on Monday. The Jeep had many clothes and other personal items belonging to Hurt, as if he had been living out of the vehicle, according to the lieutenant.
Kevin Rosales grew up with Rodriguez and gathered with friends Monday to mourn with them. He called Rodriguez a positive and supportive friend.
"It's really hard ‘cause it's like losing a brother and he had a lot to live for," Rosales said. "He was too young. It's just unfair to be taken away at an early age."
Rodriguez was sincere and thoughtful to those he knew, his friend said.
"Our conversations were not something simple, it would always be something deep," Rosales said. "Every time he would say hi to me it was not just a simple handshake, we would hug. ... We were just close."
Rosales had strong words for the driver of the Jeep.
"I really have a lot of anger towards the driver at the moment," he said. "If he wouldn't have taken off, I'm sure nobody would be as angry as we are now, because he's just a coward for running away (and) not ... owning up to his responsibilities."
Meanwhile, friends of Rodriguez have set up a GoFundMe page to help the family with funeral expenses.
"As many know Edgar, he was an amazing and loving soul. Always so kind and generous, willing to help anyone in need. Edgar was only 19 years old, still full of life. He had his whole life ahead of him, leaving his parents, sister and brother behind. He was in excellent uncle to his two beautiful nephews," friends wrote on the web page.
Police are encouraging Hurt to come forward.
"The best thing Tyler can do right now is contact us, come forward, tell us his side of it, explain what happened and tell us why he left the scene of that accident. I think it would go best for him if he did that. If he doesn't, we will track him down and find him. It's time for him to be responsible and come give us some answers. The family needs some closure," Bell said.
Anyone with information on Hurt can contact the Unified Police Department at 801-743-7000.
Contributing: Sandra Yi
