A 51-year-old Indianola woman is facing a felony charge after police say she struck a pedestrian crossing a Spanish Fork street and drove away, leaving the 25-year-old man in critical condition. Maria Del Rocio Morales Ruvalcaba was taken into custody days after the crash, accused of leaving the scene of an accident involving serious injury.
According to FOX 13, Ruvalcaba allegedly struck the man as he was crossing 300 North with three other people while she was traveling north on 800 East. Police said the man had nearly made it across the roadway when he was hit. Investigators say Ruvalcaba then left the scene in her van, according to the same report.
An earlier account from ABC4 Utah described the vehicle involved as possibly a white van that did not stop after the collision. Separately, Gephardt Daily reported that the man was crossing 800 East heading east with three other people and was nearly across the road when a northbound vehicle struck him, dating the crash to Nov. 4.
Surveillance Video Led Investigators to the Van
During the investigation, police obtained video footage from a nearby home that allegedly showed a van driving away from the scene, the station's report notes. That footage became a key piece of evidence as detectives worked to identify the vehicle and track down its driver.
A photo of the van released after Ruvalcaba's arrest shows a broken windshield on the passenger side of the vehicle, per the same account. As of Tuesday in that report, the unidentified victim remained hospitalized in critical condition. The pedestrian's identity has not been released, and police have not released additional information beyond what has already been reported.
A Statewide Pattern of Crossing Pedestrians
The circumstances described in this case echo a broader pattern flagged by Utah regulators. A fiscal year 2024 roadway-safety document from the Utah Highway Safety Office notes that 68% of pedestrians in the crashes it examined were entering or crossing the road, with drivers found at fault in more than half of those collisions.
What To Do If You Witness or Are Involved in a Crash
The Sandy City Police Department recommends that crash witnesses or those involved contact 911 as soon as practical, or use a non-emergency line for a less serious incident. Callers should be ready to provide the location, direction of travel, the condition of those involved, and descriptions of any vehicles.
The department also advises people to have their license, registration, and current insurance card ready, and to remain calm while avoiding arguments or admissions of fault before first responders arrive. If injuries occurred, the department recommends leaving vehicles where they are and waiting for direction, since investigating officers are tasked with determining the cause of a collision and who is at fault. Taking notes while waiting for officers, the department adds, can help people remember and relay what happened.
The Sandy City Police Department has identified distracted driving, failure to yield, following too closely, and texting while driving as leading causes of crashes, and it has encouraged drivers to wear seatbelts and stay mindful of road hazards.
