TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Nov. 23, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Police have identified a suspect and charged her with vehicular homicide after a hit-and-run Wednesday night in Taylorsville.
Roxanna Molina, 27, has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.
Police were called to the accident scene at about 9 p.m. Wednesday.
“A silver Escalade had blown through a red light, traveling southbound on Redwood Road, and it struck a pedestrian who was in the crosswalk,” Lt. Brian Lohrke, Unified Police Department, said at the scene.
Witnesses said the victim was carried on the hood of the SUV for about half a block. Medical teams responded, but could not save the man.
Investigators were not immediately able to identify the male victim, who died at the scene, near 4200 South and Redwood Road. At 2:20 p.m. Thursday, a tweet announced they had identified the man as a 19-year-old Taylorsville resident. His name has not yet been released.
The vehicle had left the scene, but police located the Cadillac Escalade in a drugstore parking lot at about 4700 S. Redwood Road.
“The vehicle was severely damaged and was disabled,” a probable cause statement says. “As officers approached the vehicle, a female was seen getting out of the vehicle and running to another vehicle. The female was apprehended before she could leave the scene in the other vehicle.”
Molina was arrested and taken to the Taylorsville precinct to be interviewed. She was read her Miranda rights and agreed to have blood drawn, the statement says.
“Roxanna changed her story several times during the interview,” the statement says, “however, she finally admitted to the following: Roxanna stated she was on her way to a party. She admitted to taking several shots and drinking several beers prior to driving to the party. She admitted to driving the vehicle.
“At the intersection of 4200 S. Redwood Road, Roxanna stated she knew she hit someone, but she kept going. Due to the damage done to the vehicle and injuries done to the victim, investigators concluded that Roxanna was traveling well above the speed limit.”
Molina was booked on suspicion of:
- Automobile homicide, a third-degree felony
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, a class-B misdemeanor
Gephardt Daily will provide the name of the victim and additional information as facts become available.
