A Bountiful woman faces automobile homicide charges after police linked her to a fatal pedestrian crash that happened five months ago at a marked crosswalk on Main Street.
Lisa Whittington, 37, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 22, on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, ABC4 reported. The charges include automobile homicide by negligence, obstruction of justice, failure to remain at an accident involving injury, making a written false statement and using a wireless device while operating a vehicle.
The crash happened shortly after 9 a.m. on May 19 near 200 South and Main Street. Bountiful police officers responded to reports of an unconscious woman in the roadway, according to court documents cited by ABC4. The woman was lying in or near a marked crosswalk and was taken to a hospital.
Officers initially believed the woman had suffered a medical emergency. Medical professionals determined her injuries, which included skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhaging, were consistent with a vehicle collision, KUTV reported. The victim later died.
Surveillance footage showed the victim walking lawfully in the crosswalk when a GMC Yukon XL turned left and struck her, according to court documents. A probable cause statement said the video showed the victim "knocked violently to the ground."
Whittington was at the scene that morning. She told officers she had found the victim in the road and stopped to help, court documents state. Police later identified her as the driver of the GMC Yukon.
In subsequent statements, Whittington told police she did not see the victim in the crosswalk but heard a shout after turning left, according to ABC4. She denied using her phone while driving.
Investigators executed search warrants on Whittington's phone and found activity immediately before the collision, court documents state. Detectives also found text messages sent after the crash in which Whittington allegedly admitted to striking the victim, according to KUTV.
Whittington was booked into jail. All charges are allegations, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. No public statement from a defense attorney or legal representative appears in available records.
Separately, the Bountiful City Council on Aug. 11 unanimously approved traffic safety upgrades for the downtown Main Street corridor, according to approved council minutes. The upgrades include painted speed-limit markings at 200 South and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) at pedestrian crosswalks between 200 South and 100 South. The council did not publicly connect those improvements to the May crash.
Anyone with information should contact the Bountiful Police Department.
