‘I Did not Assume There Was a Child on It’

George Parker Hunter, 80, was behind the wheel on the afternoon of April 25 when he took a flip at an intersection and allegedly struck Dalton Gibbs, 9, who was driving his bike dwelling from college. Solely, based on witnesses and police stories, Hunter didn’t cease after the influence.

As a substitute, they advised police he saved driving, whilst individuals close by tried to flag him down. The truth is, based on the police report, witnesses say that when the tried to get his consideration, he truly sped up.

Based on court docket paperwork reviewed by ABC affiliate KUTV, Hunter dragged Gibbs and his bicycle for about 50 toes as witnesses had been shouting and waving at him earlier than the boy was lastly knocked free. His bike remained wedged beneath the truck as the person continued driving.

Gibbs was transported to an area hospital, however succumbed to his accidents and died that very same day.

Finally, police had been capable of monitor Hunter down and requested him in regards to the incident. Based on Legislation&Crime, he advised them that he noticed a bicycle beneath one other driver’s automobile, and when that driver was reportedly waving at him and looking out “panicked”, per NBC affiliate KSL, as they obtained out of their automobile, he thought they had been waving for him to go on, so he drove on.

He then advised police, per court docket paperwork, that he heard a screeching sound as he was driving after which noticed a bicycle in his rearview mirror. He mentioned that he obtained out of his trick, eliminated the bicycle from the place it was wedged beneath and moved it to the sidewalk.

He mentioned he waited for about seven minutes, however when nobody got here for it and he heard no sirens, he obtained again in his truck and drove away, leaving the bicycle there.

An officer on the scene reported that he heard Hunter telling somebody, “I knew I hit a bicycle, however I did not suppose there was a child on it.” Police finally discovered items of Gibbs’ bike for 2 blocks.

Officers mentioned that there was a problem within the rapid aftermath of the deadly accident in figuring out what Hunter did and didn’t know: i.e., did he know he’d been concerned in a hit-and-run or not?

“These are two very totally different states of minds,” defined Captain Britt Smith of the Nice Grove Police Division. “Considered one of them is felony and the opposite isn’t.”

Now, Hunter has been charged on one second-degree felony rely of manslaughter and one third diploma rely of leaving the scene of an accident involving dying.

Gibbs’ dad and mom spoke with KSL in June, the place they shared that they’d gotten the chance to talk with Hunter and that they’d come to forgive him for the dying of their son. “We all know he did not intend to do that,” mentioned Dalton’s mother, Kim Gibbs.

“There was a major quantity of peace and therapeutic that has come for us being keen to forgive rapidly,” she continued, “and it has opened our hearts to a variety of therapeutic quickly and in a shocking method.”

In response to this week’s fees, the couple replied to the information outlet with a press release the place they expressed that they don’t consider Hunter ought to be incarcerated or endure “comparable extreme measures.”

“We’re extremely grateful for the outpouring of affection and assist from our group, church members, and the large first responders and medical professionals. We love and miss our son Dalton day-after-day.”

“We now have been in touch with the driving force, and within the spirit of therapeutic and compassion, now we have prolonged our forgiveness to him for the accident that precipitated our household a lot hurt.”

“This tragedy has modified our lives, his included. We all know that he’s deeply remorseful. We don’t want that he or his household ought to endure further punishment past what they’ve already skilled. We don’t consider that incarceration or comparable extreme measures will present the nice that’s wanted. We consider there are different choices that may be explored to make sure public security and preserve the integrity of the driving force’s household.

“To be clear, we aren’t those urgent fees. When the County Lawyer’s workplace shared with us that they might be charging the driving force, we shared these identical sentiments with them. We want everybody to be made complete.”