Arrest is made in cyclist hit-run

Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies on Tuesday arrested a Salt Lake City man in connection with a hit-and-run accident that seriously injured a bicyclist last weekend in East Canyon.

Joaquin Estrada-Orsino, 21, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on investigation of injury hit and run, a class A misdemeanor; evidence tampering, a third-degree felony; reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor; and driving without a license. Estrada-Orsino had contacted authorities late Monday night regarding the accident, said Sheriff's Lt. Paul Jaroscak.

Sheriff's officers said Estrada-Orsino was driving his brother's car when it hit and seriously injured Dallon Loertscher, 23, in the Affleck Park campground on Saturday. Loertscher lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and had been picnicking with his family in the campground. He was struck head-on by the speeding car, sending him into the windshield before he landed about 50 feet away in an embankment.

Shane Loertscher, the cyclist's father, said witnesses saw the car leaving the canyon, and one witness wrote down a detailed description of the car and its license-plate number. When deputies tracked down the vehicle, they discovered the windshield had been replaced.

Jaroscak said Estrada-Orsino's brother, who had loaned him the car, encouraged the young man to turn himself in to authorities.

The family of the cyclist was pleased the young man had turned himself in and expressed gratitude to the community for help they have received.

"This restores my faith in humanity and the people who live here," Shane Loertscher said.

His son was admitted to University Hospital on Saturday with very serious injuries to his face, head, neck and back. The young man remained in serious condition at the hospital Tuesday.

"He is actually doing remarkably well," said the father. "The road to recovery will be long, but he will recover."

A fund for Dallon Loertscher has been established in his name at Zion's Bank, if people want to make donations to help with his medical expenses.

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E-mail: nhale@desnews.com