Man arrested in hit and run that killed 11-year-old boy
Aug 12, 2022, 9:34 AM | Updated: 7:10 pm
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — The man suspected of killing an 11-year-old boy in a hit-and-run crash in West Valley City is now behind bars.
Steven Rollins, 46, is being held at the Salt Lake County Jail on one third-degree felony charge of failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving death.
He was arrested about a mile from where the child was killed.
NEWS RELEASE: suspect arrested in hit and run that killed 11yo boy. pic.twitter.com/OSmnJwE9B3
— WVC Police (@WVCPD) August 12, 2022
“It looked like he hit a pole or person or something,” said Madison Sorenson.
It was in front of Sorenson’s house that police recovered the silver Toyota Tacoma they say was driven by Rollins in Wednesday’s deadly hit and run.
“I realized it was a Toyota truck they were looking for, and I was like, ‘Oh crap, that’s the truck,'” Sorenson said.
Sorenson said her neighbor called the truck into police late Thursday night, who then found Rollins in a trailer just a few doors down.
“He just left it there,” Sorenson said.
According to the probable cause statement for Rollins arrest, Rollins was with a woman in the trailer who told police she and others were aware of the child’s death and that she tried to get Rollins to turn himself in.
That statement is leaving neighbors with more questions.
“Why did he just leave instead of making sure the kid was OK?” Sorenson said. “Pretty scary.”
11-year-old killed, driver at large in West Valley City hit and run
Though police have not publicly identified the 11-year-old boy, Sorenson said she is devastated for the family, adding that her heart goes out to them.
“I can’t imagine what they’re going through right now,” she said. “It must be heartbreaking pretty bad.”
KSL has been searching court records, and Rollins has been in trouble with the law for many years. Some of the cases we discovered involved drugs, assault and vehicle theft.
We also learned from the South Sanpete School District that the boy attended Ephraim Elementary last year and would have attended Ephraim Middle School this year.
They said the boy’s principal and a counselor have been offering support to the family.
We’re also seen former teachers and friends posting about how sweet this young man was and how heartbroken the community is.
School district officials said counselors will be on hand for anyone needing emotional support.
