SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, Jan. 11, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The South Salt Lake Police Department has released the name of the driver of a stolen BMW that hit a white Hyundai late Sunday night near 2500 South and State Street.
The crash killed Hyundai driver Micheal Green, 36, of Farmington, whose car was ripped in half in the violent collision.
On Wednesday morning, Kenneth Ross Gray, 24, from West Valley City was released from the hospital and booked into the Salt Lake County Adult Detention Center. Gray waived his Miranda rights and admitted to police that he had been using drugs and was the driver of the black BMW SUV involved in the fatal crash, according to the SSLPD news release.
Gray was charged with one count of second-degree felony automobile homicide criminal negligence, two counts of third-degree felony DUI with serious bodily injury by negligence, three counts of second-degree felony fail to respond to officer’s signal to stop (fleeing), one count of second-degree felony receive or transfer a stolen vehicle, one count of third-degree felony failure to remain at accident involving death and three counts of third-degree felony failure to remain at accident involving injury.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office will be screening the case and possible additional charges may be forthcoming.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist with Green’s funeral expenses, that had raised $22,360 of a $25,000 goal as of 4:15 p.m. Wednesday.
“Micheal Green was killed in a tragic car accident on Jan. 8, 2017,” the page says.
“Mike was an amazing father to his two children. He was a wonderful husband and loved his wife Mandi and their life together.
“He was a loving son, brother and friend. He was funny, kind and soft spoken.
“He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Our hearts are feeling raw and beaten with the news.”
South Salt Lake Police Public Information Officer Gary Keller said it was a “horrific” crash that occurred at about 11:52 p.m., when the stolen BMW was traveling on State Street at a high rate of speed.
Keller said the BMW hit the Hyundai, “basically cutting the small white car in half and killing the driver.”
The debris field was so extensive, all four lanes of State Street as well as both on ramps to I-80 were closed until just after 6:30 a.m. Monday.
Salt Lake City Police Lt. Craig Gleason said the BMW was initially spotted at the Wasatch Inn, 1416 S. State St., by a Metro Gang Unit officer who recognized it as a stolen vehicle and called for assistance.
“The people were getting into the car, saw the officers and drove off,” Gleason said. “No one pursued them. The officers could see down State Street, and one of them said he saw a giant flash. He wondered if they had crashed.”
PIO Keller said the BMW was occupied by two males and a female. On Tuesday, the first male suspect was identified as Isaac Clay Duncan, 21, of Salt Lake City. The female’s name was not released, but she was identified as a 24-year-old woman from West Jordan.
The woman and Duncan were released from the hospital Tuesday, and Duncan was taken into custody. Charges are still being considered for the woman.
“This was a terrible crash,” Keller said. “I haven’t seen one this bad, probably in my whole career. The small white car was basically cut in half. The driver was thrown from the car. The engine and the front end was taken off the BMW.”
“When you see this type of carnage, it’s unbelievable.”
My thoughts are with the family,friends and children. I hope these scumbag criminals go to prison for a very long time.