Arrest made in fatal hit-and-run

Authorities have arrested a man in connection with Sunday's hit-and-run crash on I-215 that killed a construction worker.

Michael Todd Brinkman, 49, was taken into custody without incident about 12:45 p.m. Monday in Duchesne County, said Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeff Nigbur.

Dispatchers received a call from a man who said he witnessed the crash that killed Brayden F. Beddoes. The man said he followed the other driver for a distance after the crash, taking down a license plate number, which allowed troopers to track down a cell phone number.

"We knew he was in Roosevelt and were able to talk to him a little bit by cell phone," Nigbur said. "He wasn't very cooperative."

Nigbur said the man was being questioned at the UHP office in Murray by agents with the State Bureau of Investigations. He said the man has told investigators he was in the area of the crash and acknowledged striking something.

"We do have the vehicle in question, and we are processing it," Nigbur said. "We do have evidence on that vehicle."

Beddoes, 20, was sweeping a section of the interstate near 3300 South where crews with A-Core construction had just finished cutting the concrete when he was hit from behind about 7:45 p.m. Sunday, trooper Cameron Roden said. Workers had blocked off the two right lanes with construction barrels, and Beddoes was in the far right lane with a co-worker when he was struck.

"They weren't even close to (the left lanes)," Roden said, adding that both men were wearing reflective orange vests when the crash occurred.

Witnesses said a blue and white pickup truck swerved into the blocked lanes well before hitting Beddoes. Roden said after Beddoes was struck, the truck hit a concrete barricade and traveled another 200 yards before it stopped.

A construction worker was approaching the vehicle when the driver sped away, witnesses said.

Nigbur said he could not discuss whether drug or alcohol use is believed to be a factor in the crash.

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