ST. GEORGE — The motive force suspected within the hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian on Crimson Cliffs Drive final week has been recognized following a multiagency investigation spearheaded by the Washington Metropolis Police Division. However police say he’s nonetheless at massive.
Joe Emanuel Hernandez, 20, of West Valley, was charged Tuesday in fifth District Court docket for his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run crash that left one man lifeless final Thursday.
Washington Metropolis Police Chief Jason Williams advised St. George Information a no-bail warrant for Hernandez was issued Tuesday when the case was filed by the Washington County Lawyer’s Workplace.
The incident occurred final Thursday when emergency dispatch obtained a name shortly earlier than 10 p.m. reporting an injured man mendacity within the roadway close to 1050 West and Crimson Cliffs Drive. A number of motorists have been rendering support to the person when officers and emergency personnel arrived.
Responders reportedly started treating the injured man, however regardless of continued life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his accidents and was pronounced lifeless on the scene. Williams stated the person sustained in depth trauma from the incident.
Of the individuals who pulled over to assist the person, Williams stated none of them have been within the space when the crash happened.
Investigators say footage collected from a number of space cameras confirmed a person being struck by what gave the impression to be an SUV as he began to cross the road from the place he was standing on the sidewalk. The automobile then swerved barely to the precise earlier than persevering with south alongside Crimson Cliffs Drive.
On the scene, detectives spoke to a witness who reportedly stated they have been stopped at a purple gentle roughly two blocks from the scene once they noticed a purple compact-style SUV blow by means of the sunshine at a excessive fee of pace. The witness stated the automobile then continued towards the placement the place the sufferer was killed. The automobile was stated to have a physique model in keeping with a Toyota Rav 4.
The witness’s account of the automobile kind reportedly was in keeping with automobile elements discovered by first responders on the morning of the crash. This proof was analyzed by the Washington County Important Crash Process Power as a part of the accident reconstruction investigation and the elements have been discovered to be manufactured by Toyota.
On Saturday, officers obtained info on a potential suspect identified solely as “Joe,” of Draper, who was working at a job web site in St. George on the time of the crash.
Additionally they discovered a quotation that was issued to a Joe Hernandez, who was stopped by a patrol officer in St. George on Thursday for going 97 mph in a 70 mph pace zone. The quotation listed the automobile as a 2015 Toyota Rav 4.
A registration verify on the automobile indicated that Hernandez lived in West Valley Metropolis.
Investigators reached out to the West Valley Police Division to request that one in all their officers verify the automobile for any harm, which is once they discovered the automobile couldn’t be situated and that Hernandez was “well-known” to officers there, police stated.
Investigators discovered that Hernandez was a registered gang member, suspected of a number of violent crimes up north, and had three prior convictions for dashing.
Hernandez is also awaiting trial on expenses associated to a hit-and-run crash that induced property harm in Salt Lake Metropolis.
On Monday, the Salt Lake County Fugitive Process Power situated the Toyota parked within the yard of Hernandez’s residence in West Valley Metropolis.
Investigators say they reached out to Hernandez’s employer and confirmed that he was working at a job in St. George throughout the time of the crash. Additionally they say Hernandez was scheduled to work in St. George for one more week however had not been seen since he left early on Friday after telling his supervisor that he wanted to “attend to authorized issues in Salt Lake Metropolis,” authorities allege within the affidavit.
Additional investigation revealed that Hernandez checked out early from a lodge in St. George and he returned to West Valley Metropolis late Friday.
Moreover, authorities say Hernandez had contacted his insurance coverage firm shortly after the hit-and-run crash and reportedly advised the adjuster he had struck a deer and wanted to file a declare to restore front-end harm.
On Monday, officers noticed the Toyota pulling into the yard behind Hernandez’s residence, which is when the Utah Division of Public Security launched a helicopter that flew over the residence and confirmed it was Hernandez’s automobile.
Aerial images taken throughout the operation confirmed dents and harm to the entrance bumper of the SUV in keeping with proof discovered on the scene. Nonetheless, they have been capable of take him into custody at the moment.
As of Thursday morning, Hernandez had but to be situated and the seek for him continues, Williams advised St. Geoge Information.
On Tuesday morning, the case was filed by the Washington County Lawyer’s Workplace and a no-bail warrant was issued for Hernandez’s arrest. His expenses embrace negligent murder, a category A misdemeanor; failing to stay on the scene of an accident involving loss of life and making a false insurance coverage declare, third-degree felonies; and driving on a denied license, a category C misdemeanor.
This report is predicated on statements from court docket data, police or different responders and will not include the complete scope of findings. Individuals arrested or charged are presumed harmless till discovered responsible in a court docket of legislation or as in any other case determined by a trier-of-fact.
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