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SLC Police seek driver after man injured in hit-and-run crash

Posted at 10:24 AM, Feb 04, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-04 23:45:39-05

SALT LAKE CITY – Police responded to a hit and run incident Sunday morning after receiving a call from bystanders who heard the crash.

When Salt Lake City Police arrived around 7:00 a.m. they found the male pedestrian on the road at 500 East and Harvard Avenue with “pretty significant injuries.”

Officers say a white sedan of an unknown make and model struck the victim while traveling northbound then sped off. So far they have been unable to locate the vehicle.

According to Lt. Mark Buhman with the Salt Lake City Police Department, the victim, 25-year-old Austin Bryson, was just south of a crosswalk but it is unknown whether he was crossing or not.

Bryson's girlfriend, Alexis Pulver, told FOX 13 Bryson was on his long board when it happened.

"I just can't understand how somebody can do that to another human being, how you can hit somebody with your car and not stop," Pulver told FOX 13 outside University of Utah Hospital Sunday night. "Austin was laying on the ground for about 10 minutes just screaming for help, for anybody to stop and help him."

Police say Bryson broke his leg and injured his head and was transported to the hospital via ambulance.

Pulver said he had two fractures in his right leg and his head injury was limited to a flap of skin, and not any bone damage. After about four hours in the operating room, Bryson came out of surgery around 8 p.m. Sunday night and is recovering.

A GoFundMe page has been created to assist with his medical expenses. Pulver said it will be difficult for Bryson to manage the payments since doctors expect him to have a lengthy recovery. Bryson is a CNA and was planning to go to nursing school.

Officers say they will continue to search for the driver, potentially using security camera footage from homes in the area.