EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — A 19-year-old pedestrian was fatally injured Friday when he was hit by a 14-year-old who ran a stop sign while on a dirt bike in Eagle Mountain.
Both males were taken by Life Flight helicopters to area hospitals after the 4:55 p.m. crash; the 19-year-old pronounced dead just before 6 p.m. at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon told Gephardt Daily. The victim’s name was not released pending notification of next of kin.
The 14-year-old suffered multiple fractures including a broken leg, but his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. Since he is a minor, his name won’t be released.
The boy is believed to have been traveling in excess of 60 mph at the time of impact, Cannon said, after running a stop sign at the intersection of Porters Crossing Parkway and Evans Ranch Drive.
The estimate was based on crash scene analysis, he said, and the fact two fellow riders, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, also on dirt bikes, riding with him “said the 14-year-old took off like a shot.”
“In the first place, a 14-year-old shouldn’t be diving anything on a public roadway,” Cannon said. “But what makes this so frustrating is it was absolutely preventable.
“Now the family of a 19 year old who had his whole life ahead of him is grieving and a 14 year old will live the rest of his life knowing that he killed someone because of the choices he made.”
A decision on what if any charges may be filed in the incident will come after review of the case with prosecutors, Cannon said.
