Man arrested after police said he drove into a bicyclist during a road rage incident in Heber
Apr 20, 2025, 11:18 AM | Updated: 1:46 pm
FILE - A Heber City police officer in Heber City on Monday, July 1, 2019. (Deseret News)
(Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – A man was arrested Saturday after police said he drove his truck into a bicyclist in Heber, breaking his leg during a road rage incident.
Loren Ray Russell, 43, was booked for suspected aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, failure to remain at the accident involving injury, and failure to yield right of way.
On April 13 at approximately 1:02 p.m., police were notified of an injured bicyclist who had been struck by a vehicle near 600 S. 100 E, according to an affidavit of probable cause statement.
The bicyclist complained of ankle pain, and police said a medical team provided care at the scene.
The affidavit stated the bicyclist told police he was hit by a truck before the driver fled the scene, but he did not have any further information on the driver or the truck.
Police reported they saw “what appeared to be acceleration marks leading towards where the bicyclist was struck.”
Road rage investigation
Police said a local business had surveillance cameras that pointed toward the road rage incident, and on April 14, the footage was given to police.
In the surveillance video, police described a gray Chevy truck with a white utility shell was responsible for “failing to stop at the sidewalk while an individual was riding down the sidewalk on a bike.”
Footage showed the bicyclist ride around the truck, hit the hood with his hand, then ride away, police said. The truck then reportedly turned toward the bicyclist and accelerated, hit him with his truck, and drove away. License plate information was not visible in surveillance footage.
On April 19, police contacted the bicyclist who said he had a broken leg, possibly needed surgery and wanted to press charges, police said.
A witness who worked at the nearby business gave police a statement after seeing the surveillance footage, and reported seeing the same truck at an address in Heber.
Police said they contacted the property manager of the address provided and learned Russell lived at the residence, and drove a gray 2017 Chevy Silverado with a white utility shell that matched the description of the suspect truck.
Road rage arrest
Police reportedly went to Russell’s residence where the suspect truck was parked in the driveway, and told him the reason for their visit before placing him in handcuffs.
Post-Miranda, Russell told police on April 13, he was at the nearby business and heading home when “a male riding a bike hit the side and the hood of his truck.”
Russell said he felt threatened by the bicyclist and drove away, and did not think about calling law enforcement at the time, police said.
Police said they didn’t believe Russell was unaware he hit the bicyclist. He was arrested and taken to jail.
This article has been updated to correctly reflect information provided by law enforcement.
