2 men arrested in hit-and-run

SPRINGVILLE — Springville police arrested two men Wednesday in connection with the hit-and-run accident Sunday afternoon that sent 15-year-old Joshua Evans to the hospital with severe injuries.

Police say a 26-year-old male was driving a red Pontiac Firebird on Sunday afternoon when he hit Evans, who was riding his bike. After police asked the public for help locating the vehicle, officers say the man panicked and, with the help of his 19-year-old brother, drove the car up Spanish Fork Canyon on Monday night, put a container of gas in the back and pushed the vehicle off the Thistle Overlook.

"He told us he wanted to hide the car where he thought we wouldn't find it," said Springville Police Lt. Dave Caron. "It didn't work out for him."

A group of campers near where the car landed saw the car's flames and called the Spanish Fork Fire Department, who notified Springville police when they realized it was a red Firebird.

With the help of the Utah State Motor Pool, officers were able to locate the vehicle identification number and trace it back to the family of the two men. Both are believed to be in the country illegally, and agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement helped locate them.

"Every so often what happens is a case comes together and everyone does exactly what you'd expect them to," Caron said. "This is one of those perfect examples of all levels working together and everything came together just right."

The younger brother was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in an unrelated incident early Wednesday morning, Caron said. After police interviewed him, they decided to hold him for investigation of obstruction of justice. The older brother was arrested later Wednesday morning, for investigation of leaving the scene of an accident and obstruction of justice. Police say he was arrested without incident and confessed to hitting Evans and attempting to torch the car.

Caron said the way the case came together was pleasing, but he said the most satisfying aspect has been Evans' speedy recovery. He has been moved out of the intensive care unit at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and is now listed in fair condition.

"When (the accident) first happened, we weren't sure he'd pull through," Caron said. "So we're really thrilled."

As recently as Monday, doctors were expecting Evans to be in the hospital for at least a month. But further tests have found no signs of brain damage, and Evans was scheduled to be released today.

"He's doing excellent," said his father, Cedrick Evans. "He healed really fast. It's a big relief — it could have been a lot worse."

Family members on Monday said they were more concerned with Joshua Evans' welfare than catching the man who hit him, but the word of the arrests Wednesday came as welcome news to the family.

"Eventually it would have hit home had they never been caught," Cedrick Evans said. "Knowing that they're not out there anymore is a big relief."

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E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com