Man killed in hit-and-run crash near Washington Square Park in SLC
May 2, 2025, 6:32 AM | Updated: 10:54 am
A photo of the location where a man was struck and killed early Friday on May 2, 2025. (Don Brinkerhoff, KSL NewsRadio)
(Don Brinkerhoff, KSL NewsRadio)
SALT LAKE CITY — A man died in Salt Lake City early Friday after police said he was likely hit by a car whose driver then fled the scene. Hours later, the driver was arrested.
At approximately 1:15 a.m., a Gold Cross Ambulance found a 41-year-old man injured and unresponsive near 400 South and 200 East, near Washington Square Park. Despite efforts by paramedics to save his life, he died at the scene.
Police did not detail a possible call reporting the incident, but evidence at the scene suggested he had been hit by a car that was nowhere to be found, at least immediately.
The Utah Transit Authority assisted the Salt Lake City Police Department by checking nearby cameras. Authorities reviewed the footage and were able to put together a description of the vehicle, the Salt Lake City Police Department said in a press release.
Hours later, just before 5:30 a.m., police announced the driver, whom they believed was involved in the crash, was located in a nearby grocery store parking lot.
“While clearing the crash scene, firefighters from the Salt Lake City Fire Department (SLCFD) spotted a vehicle parked in the Trader Joe’s parking lot off 400 South that matched the vehicle description provided by UTA,” SLCPD said.
Firefighters approached the vehicle to check if anybody was injured inside. They found the suspected driver — he attempted to flee again, police said, but firefighters kept him on scene until police arrived.
“Preliminary information suggests the driver may have been impaired at the time of the crash,” SLCPD said.
The driver was taken into custody without incident. SLCPD identified the suspect as 61-year-old Steven Ray Weathers, and said he was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on suspicion of automobile homicide, failing to remain at the scene of a crash and driving on a denied license.
The identity of the victim had not been released. Police were still investigating to confirm whether the driver was impaired. SLCPD asked anyone with information that could help its investigation to call 801-799-3000.
Don Brinkerhoff and Jacob Freeman contributed to this story.
This is a breaking news story. It may be updated.
