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Police seek driver after 2-year-old boy dies in hit-and-run accident

Posted at 11:08 PM, Jun 10, 2013
and last updated 2013-06-11 20:34:36-04

WEST VALLEY CITY – A 2-year-old boy is dead after an alleged hit-and-run accident in West Valley City Monday night.

Lt. Matt Elson, West Valley City Police Department, said Angela Barnett was walking across a street while pushing a stroller with her 2-year-old son Gavyn inside it at 5600 West and 4100 South.

Elson said the accident occurred around 9:45 p.m.

"The stroller was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound," he said. "And it knocked the child out of the stroller and onto the road. The fire department came and administered medical aid, and they transported the child to a hospital."

Barnett's 9-year-old daughter, Serrena, was walking in the street as well. Gavyn's sister said her mother blacked out when the accident happened, so she picked up her baby brother and put him on the sidewalk while they waited for emergency responders.

Serrena said the driver stopped and spoke at the scene.

She said: “It was like, ‘oops, I hit something.’ But more likely he said, like, ‘baby’ or something…He just like drove off."

Jeri Grey is Gavyn's grandmother, and she said her daughter recounted the accident to her.

"My daughter said she looked both ways," Grey said. "No cars were coming, but by the time she got half way, cars had already stopped, but that car came out of nowhere, don't know where it came from, it just came.

Gavyn was flown to Primary Children’s Medical Center in extremely critical condition, and he died around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Elson said the vehicle involved in the accident fled the scene. Angela Barnett said she wants the driver to come forward and accept accountability.

“You killed an innocent 2-year-old, and that was my 2-year-old—the love of my life,” Barnett said. “You took that away from me. I just want him to know it’s not worth not coming forward, so please do.”

Surveillance footage shows the car to be a silver, white or gray four-door sports car with a spoiler on the back. Police said the vehicle could have damage to the front headlight. They asked citizens and auto repair shops to be on the lookout for the vehicle.

Elson said the family was not in a crosswalk when the accident occurred, and he said there aren't crosswalks in that area.

A memorial fund for the family has been set up at both Wells Fargo and Zions Bank. Both accounts are under the name Gavyn Barnett.