S.L. lawyer files wrongful death suit against driver in wife's hit-run death

A Salt Lake attorney whose wife was killed by a hit-and-run driver while jogging along 900 East has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the incident.

R. Brent Stephens filed the action this week in 3rd District Court accusing Robert J. Longaker, 26, Midvale, of negligence and failing to maintain control of his vehicle.Leslie A. Stephens, 47, was killed May 24 as she was jogging with her husband northbound on the east side of 900 East at 7500 South. A southbound sports utility vehicle driven by Longaker crossed the median strip and northbound traffic lanes and struck Leslie Stephens head-on.

Longaker fled from the scene but later returned. He was charged May 28 with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, and failure to stop at the scene of an accident, a class-A misdemeanor.

The civil lawsuit says Longaker "failed to maintain a lookout, negligently failed to see what was there to be seen and negligently failed to maintain control of his vehicle," resulting in the death of Leslie Stephens.