2 claim hit-and-run driver returned to scene and hit again

SPRINGVILLE — An injured motorcyclist and the woman who rushed to his aid after a hit-and-run crash in Springville Wednesday are calling for additional consequences against the driver.  

The driver, who is only being identified as a 63-year-old man, was cited for driving on a suspended license, leaving the scene of an injury accident and passing on the right, Springville police said Friday.

But Ben Floyd believes the man purposely drove into the back of him. And a woman he calls a “hero” — Jenny Measom — said she was struck twice by the man’s Ford Explorer after he returned to the scene of the accident and she tried to detain him.

“In 35 years of riding a motorcycle, I’ve never seen someone purposely try to take out a motorcycle,” Floyd said. “For someone not only to hit you — but not even back off or hit the brakes like human decency, then drive over you and then hit another person all within five minutes — this guy should not be on the streets.”

Floyd said he was heading east on 400 North Wednesday on his Yamaha Stryker when a Ford Explorer began pressing him from behind. He said he moved over to the right to let the SUV pass, put the driver did not pass.

Instead, Floyd said the Explorer continued to drive close behind him. Near 200 East, Floyd said he turned left and the SUV hit him from behind — knocking him off his motorcycle before he said the driver revved the engine and drove over part of the cycle.

Floyd said he asked another driver who stopped to help him to instead pursue the Explorer. At that time, Measom — who was visiting her grandmother — rushed to Floyd’s aid.

Minutes later, Meason said the same SUV reappeared.

“I looked up and I see the guy right there on the street and I’m like, 'Isn’t that the car? Isn’t that the car?'” she said.

Measom ran into the road and stood in front of the SUV, hoping to make sure it stayed at the scene.

“Everybody started screaming, 'He’s going to hit you! He’s going to hit you! He’s going to hit you — that’s the guy!'” Measom said. “And then he gunned it.”

Measom said the driver pushed forward and bumped her once with his vehicle.

“I stepped back with my left leg and just sort of braced myself, and then he hit me again,” she said.

At that point, Floyd said several other people ran over to the front of the SUV and convinced the man to stop and get out.

“He said, 'I hit you twice, why didn’t you move?'” Measom said.

She also said the man told her, “I came back for him,” referring to Floyd, and also asked Floyd why he kept swerving in front of him — which Floyd denied.

“He basically told officers that he was afraid and that’s why he left,” Springville Police Sgt. David Foster said.

Despite what Floyd and Measom say took place, the man was cited but not arrested.

Floyd was home Friday recovering from a broken wrist and significant road burn, with pain from his neck to his feet. Measom was also recovering with pain in and around her knees and had marks on her arms she said were from the impact with the SUV.

“Why is he not being investigated for assault with a vehicle?” Floyd asked.

Foster said the investigation is ongoing.

E-mail: aadams@ksl.com