Utah now tags some hit-runs as felonies

It was a year ago this month that Connie Blount, 18, a Park City woman in her freshman year at the University of Kentucky, was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident.

The tragedy shocked and horrified family members not only because of the death of their loved one, but also because they soon discovered Kentucky was one of just three states in the nation at that time where hit-and-run was a misdemeanor offense. The other two states were Montana and Utah.

"I was shocked. I was totally unaware it wasn't a felony in every state. I was horrified by that fact," said Connie's father, Jack Blount.

Motivated by his daughter's death, Blount worked to change Utah's law. Now a year later, the state has a law that makes some hit-and-run incidents a felony.

Starting today, motorists involved in a hit-and-run collision in which there is death or serious bodily injury can be charged with a felony if they previously were convicted of DUI.

Blount said he would have liked to have seen all hit-and-runs involving serious injury charged as felonies, regardless of a prior DUI conviction. But the new law is a good start, he said.

"Government is a very complex organism. Any change in the right direction is exciting. I'm certainly disappointed the law isn't broader and more straight forward," he said. "I understand these things take time. They're complicated. We're continuing to push on legislation to improve for next year."

Blount says he has the full support of law enforcement to get tougher laws passed.

"Everybody I've talked to in law enforcement have been 110 percent on my side. They think this is an unacceptable crime. It's growing out of control in America," he said.

Utah has had its share of high-profile hit-and-run incidents, in addition to what seems to be a spike in the number cases in recent weeks, including five in the past two months resulting in serious bodily injury or death.

They include:

 May 2 — A 31-year-old woman was found unconscious in the road near 4000 West and 4400 South and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

 April 20 — A 29-year-old man was critically injured after being hit by a car on 900 South near 1400 East.