A 58-year-old man was killed Saturday night after what police are calling a hit-and-run incident in downtown Ogden.
According to a statement posted on the Ogden Police Department’s Facebook page, officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of Washington Boulevard shortly after 9 p.m. after receiving reports of a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian. At the scene, they found a man — whose identity has not been made public — with critical injuries. After being given medical assistance, the man was taken to the hospital, where he later died, the release said.
Citing results of a preliminary investigation, police say the man was struck while crossing the street in the middle of the block and wasn’t within a crosswalk.
The driver of the vehicle, identified by OPD only as a 43-year-old man, reportedly left the scene. According to a probable cause affidavit, a photo of the vehicle and its license plate number led officers to the home of Joshua Eastep, who reportedly admitted to being behind the wheel at the time of the crash and said he left because he was afraid.
Eastep was arrested on suspicion of failing to remain at the scene of an accident involving death as well as possessing a criminal substance within a correctional facility. According to the affidavit, two baggies of what Eastep reportedly said contained methamphetamine were found in his pants while he was being booked into jail, though he allegedly said he didn’t know how they came to be there.
Formal charges have not yet been filed.
In its Facebook post, OPD said the fatal crash is under investigation and asked anyone with information regarding the events to contact its traffic bureau at 801-395-8221.
Reached Monday, police spokesman Lt. William Farr declined to comment on the case but said the department may release additional information as soon as Tuesday.
Saturday’s crash is the latest deadly encounter this summer on Ogden roads, coming two weeks after a 76-year-old man was hit while operating an electric scooter near 22nd and Washington and later died. One month ago, 31-year-old Charlie Hodgson was killed after being struck by a recycling truck in a crosswalk at 12th and Wall Avenue.
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