UPDATE: West Valley City Police found driver of deadly hit and run

UPDATE: The suspect identified as Jose Julian Marin Flores was taken into custody.

Police said a tip led them to his identification.

He was booked in the Salt Lake County Jail.

---

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly killed a man crossing the street Monday night.

“I can’t imagine somebody would hit somebody and then run off and leave them,” said Mike Miller, who lives a few houses away from where the crash happened.

According to tweets from the West Valley City Police Department, 39-year-old Joel Lewis was crossing the street on 7200 W 3245 South at approximately 9:55 p.m.

“The suspect vehicle, which was traveling NB (northbound), did not stop,” the tweet stated. The victim died from his injuries at the scene.

“We really need the public’s help with this,” said Roxeanne Vainuku, West Valley City Police spokesperson. “If you saw something, if you heard something, if you know of someone who has that new damage to their vehicle, let’s find some answers for the family who lost their loved one.”

On Tuesday, WVCPD tweeted that the suspect vehicle “may belong to Chevy or GMC pickup truck model year between 1999-2006” and has “driver headlight and side view mirror damage.”

“It’s very likely that if you hit a person under these circumstances, you’d know you hit something, and you’d hit something significant,” Vainuku said. “So if that happened, come forward, give us a call, let us know, and let’s work through this together.”

Vehicle fragments on scene at a deadly hit and run on 7200 W may belong to Chevy or GMC pickup truck model year between 1999-2006. The vehicle will have driver headlight and side view mirror damage. If you have info, please call 801-840-4000. Tips can be made anonymously. pic.twitter.com/wfgJcFxGth

— WVC Police (@WVCPD) November 15, 2022

And while police search for the suspect, the community morns for the victim’s family.

“I feel for the family, I really do, and I hope somebody out there, if they know anything, that they’ll call the police and tell them,” Miller expressed.

Anyone with information about the crash has been asked to call the police at 801-840-4000.