Driver is suspect in death of student

A high school sophomore was hit and killed by a drunken driver just after the first day of school let out Monday.

The 15-year-old was on his bicycle on the sidewalk near Hunter High School, 4505 S. 5600 West, when a 21-year-old man driving a black Infinity allegedly ran him over just after 2:30 p.m., witnesses and West Valley City Police Capt. Steve Sandquist said.

He said witnesses reported that the driver of the Infinity had been "driving erratically" in the high school's parking lot and that he had thrown at least one glass bottle out the window at another student.

When the vehicle left the parking lot, several witnesses followed to get the license plate number, "thinking they had a DUI," Sandquist said. Down the road, the driver made a U-turn and headed back toward the school.

"It appears that the driver intentionally left the roadway, striking the victim and killing him," Sandquist said.

A Granite School District spokesman could not be reached for comment late Monday.

The identity of the victim was not released, pending notification of family members. Sandquist expected the name of the boy would be made public today.

Witnesses told KSL-TV they saw the driver swerve to hit the bicyclist.

"Everybody's going to know about it. We've never had something this bad," Casey Clark, a junior at Hunter High, told KSL-TV.

After hitting the teenager, Sandquist said the man drove his vehicle into a nearby subdivision. Near 4300 S. Nugget Drive, he crashed into a fence and ran away on foot. With help from witnesses in the neighborhood, Sandquist said police were able to locate the man hiding in the bushes at a residence near 6000 W. 4400 South.

"He was obviously intoxicated," Sandquist said, adding the man smelled strongly of alcohol and that there were other definite signs of impairment.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital, where Sandquist said officers waited for him "to sober up a bit."

Jeremy Ryan Reed was later booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of automobile homicide, a third-degree felony.

"When we can get a better idea of all the events he was involved in, there could be more charges," Sandquist said.

He said it is unknown why the man was at the school and whether he had any kind of connection with the deceased student.

In 2003, Reed was found guilty in 3rd District Court of misdemeanor intoxication, lewdness and criminal mischief.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com