Driver who struck bicyclist is sought

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding the motorist who struck a bicyclist Saturday.

Dallon Loertscher, 23, of Idaho, was riding his mountain bike down the main road into East Canyon's Affleck Park Campground when he was hit by what witnesses described as a maroon early '90s Chevrolet Lumina, driven by a Hispanic male.

Loertscher's family had been in a campsite just south of the road when the accident happened. Some even watched as the young man was struck, deputy Bret Stewart said.

Shane Loertscher, the father of the young man, said the family had been picnicking up the canyon before the accident occurred.

"My son and a nephew were riding up the entrance road and were riding back in. My nephew came in safe, but we could hear the car accelerating and knew there was going to be an accident," Loertscher said.

The cyclist was not wearing a helmet when the vehicle struck him and launched him 45 to 50 feet from the car. "The bicyclist was coming down the road as the car was accelerating up," Stewart said. "He ended up on the top of the hood, into the windshield and then onto the south side of the road into the bushes."

Transported to the base of the canyon, Loertscher was flown to University Hospital with injuries to his face, head, back and neck. While he is still in critical condition, doctors have told his family to be encouraged, as he has not sustained any brain injuries. "He will make a recovery; it will just take a long time," the father said.

Deputies are certain that the man who struck Loertscher knew he had hit the cyclist because his car dragged the bicycle an additional 45 to 60 feet after the initial impact.

Parts of the vehicle were left at the scene, and other witnesses saw the vehicle driving down the canyon, the driver struggling to see out of his windshield.

The sheriff's office is seeking information regarding the vehicle and driver, who could face charges of leaving the scene of a serious-injury accident, reckless driving and speeding. Information can be reported by calling deputies at 801-743-7000. A fund for the injured cyclist has been established at Zions Bank.

•In an unrelated incident last month, Salt Lake City police have hit a dead end in tracking down the driver of what is believed to be a white delivery van that struck and critically injured cyclist Martin Kasteler, 37, on 2450 South near 600 East.

Kasteler is currently in rehabilitation for the injuries he sustained in the June 17 accident. Information regarding the crash can be reported to the police at 801-799-INFO (799-4636). Callers are allowed anonymity.

•The Department of Public Safety is also continuing its attempts to track down the driver of a white Subaru that hit two motorcyclists stopped along I-15, which was shrouded in smoke from the Milford Flat fire. The couple were killed, and although the motorist initially stopped, he later left the scene of the accident.

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E-mail: nhale@desnews.com