Man pleads guilty in pedestrians' deaths

Donald Lee Snyder, the man charged with killing a pedestrian and critically injuring another by hitting them while driving a stolen truck, has pleaded guilty to certain crimes as part of a plea bargain.

A disposition hearing for his case has been set for Sept. 7.

Snyder has entered a guilty plea to two counts of manslaughter and one of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, all second-degree felonies.

Two other charges were dismissed. They were second-degree felony theft by receiving stolen property and third-degree felony failing to stop for a police officer.

Snyder, 36, of Kearns, was charged after he tried to outrun a UHP trooper who had spotted him driving erratically April 15 in Salt Lake City near 1700 S. Main.

The trooper stopped at a red light, but Snyder ran the light and smashed into a car driven by Douglas Butcher, 36, who was seriously injured, according to court documents. Butcher later died. The crash threw the vehicle onto the sidewalk where it killed Knut Oldland, 45, who was walking there, the documents said.

Police arriving at the scene found a sawed-off shotgun in the truck.

The trooper was cleared of any improper conduct in the chase.