Milton Patterson was hit by a car on October 23, 2009, when he was run over in West Jordan, Utah, following a car wreck. According to KSL News, Milton Patterson was driving a van on Bangerter Highway when he was rear ended by Ronald Torres when he stopped for a red light near 4700 South. Patterson then did what many would do after such a wreck, he got out of his car to inspect the damage.

Unfortunately, Torres made a decision to flee the scene and so he backed his car up to clear the scene of impact and then surged forward, striking and dragging the more than 350 pound Patterson in the process. Torres, when he was caught, claimed that he didn’t know he had struck Patterson. He was merely fleeing the scene, he told the police. Horrifically, Patterson died a week later due to complications from the severe brain injury, facial fractures and respiratory problems he developed from this Utah hit and run crime. Justice finally caught up with him at a sentencing hearing held in Salt Lake City on April 25, 2011.

Judge Robin Reese didn’t buy Torres’ story that he didn’t know he had struck this innocent motorist. This Third District Court judge told the defendant: “It’s hard for me to believe that you didn’t understand you’d made contact with him.” He then sentenced Torres to the maximum time allowed for a conviction of failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death, a 3rd degree felony, which is 0-5 years. Torres was also ordered to serve one year for negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor, in connection with this fatal accident. The defendant was additionally ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution and any outstanding medical and funeral expenses as well as any potential therapy the family might receive.

I personally think this man got off easy for what he did. His conduct of leaving the scene was both intentional and reckless. I really hope the family has pursued a civil action against Torres for their profound loss.

Ron Kramer is a Utah wrongful death attorney and auto accident lawyer practicing in Salt Lake City and throughout the state of Utah.

Larry Vandeventer, 70 years old from Salt Lake City, Utah is dead following a June 25, 2010 fatal car accident that also took the life of an unborn child and has left the child’s mother critically injured. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Vandeventer was driving down 700 East in Salt Lake about 11:30 a.m. in a Cadillac about 50 mph when he slowly starting drifting into the other lane directly toward a Subaru Impreza. A crash then ensued, which caused the Cadillac to flip and the engine of the Subaru to push into the cabin, effectively pinning the pregnant mom to her seat. It took emergency crews over an hour to free her. She was flown to University Hospital in critical condition.

My deepest condolences go out to the victims of this tragic car accident as well as their families. I will keep the pregnant mother in my prayers and wish her the best recovery possible under the circumstances.

The story does not mention why the Vandeventer Cadillac veered into the path of the Subaru. Some suspect that there were medical problems that caused this crash to happen. Legally speaking, the mother, who was 7 ½ months pregnant at the time, has a claim against Vandeventer for herself as well as her unborn child. She may also have a claim against her own insurance policy under the “underinsured” provision.

I would recommend that the victims and their families contact an experienced Utah personal injury and wrongful death attorney to explore what options might be available to them.

The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the article at the time it was written. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call us or another reputable Utah personal injury law firm. Do not act based on the above information without getting a consultation. The best Utah personal injury attorneys will offer a free consultation. We offer a free and confidential consultation to those (and their family members) not substantially at fault in causing their accident. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified attorney.

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