Salt Lake City, Utah resident Eric Porter was arrested on Saturday, November, 21 2009 after allegedly killing a man with his SUV following a fight in Eagle Mountain, Utah. 26-year-old Eric W. Porter and Brett L. Ostler of Magna, Utah began arguing at an Eagle Mountain, Utah home located at Kiowa Parkway and Golden Eagle road. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the argument intensified as Porter left the house and got into his vehicle. Ostler followed him into his car and they continued arguing. Ostler then left Porter’s car and slammed the door which angered Porter who said something to Ostler as he was walking away. Ostler proceeded to open the door of Porter’s SUV and punched him in the face.
According to Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt., Spencer Cannon, Porter back up his SUV to leave but as he hit the gas he hit Ostler with his car. Ostler suffered “trauma” to his head and upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Porter called 911 immediately after hitting Ostler and cooperated with law enforcement officials. He was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide which is a class A misdemeanor in Utah.
I offer my sincerest condolences to Mr. Ostler’s family as they mourn this tragic loss.
Whatever the facts may be in this case, the result is tragic. Based on these reports the family of Brett Ostler has a wrongful death claim against Mr. Porter’s insurance. A Utah wrongful death attorney will help them file this wrongful death claim. I recommend that his family accept the Utah County Sheriff’s finding that the death was accidental. If the insurance companies (for Mr. Porter as well as Brett Ostler) could successfully argue that the run-over was intentional, this will most likely trigger an exclusion in most insurance clauses that will free them from having to pay out any money on this claim.
Mr. Porter seems to be the only one that really knows what happened. Since Mr. Porter stated that it was an accident, most likely the authorities will conclude just that.
The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the blog article above. 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. 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 personal injury lawyer. Most skilled and qualified Utah lawyers offer a free consultation. We will likewise provide a free consultation to not-at-fault persons (and their family members) mentioned in this article.