Heber man arrested after hitting cyclist with truck, breaking his leg, police say

HEBER, Utah (ABC4) — A Heber man was arrested on Saturday after hitting a bicyclist with his truck, leaving him with a broken leg, according to Heber City Police.

Loren Ray Russell, 43, was arrested in Wasatch County on charges of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury – road rage enhancement (second-degree felony), failure to remain at accident involving injury – road rage enhancement (class A misdemeanor), and failure to yield right of way – road rage enhancement (infraction).

The incident occurred at around 1 p.m. on April 13, police said. Officers responded to a medical emergency at 600 South 100 East involving a male cyclist who had been hit by a car. Upon arrival, the officer contacted the individual who was “complaining of ankle pain,” arrest documents state.

When asked about who had struck him, the individual was unsure of the details, but claimed a truck had hit him and fled the scene. The officer reportedly also observed “what appeared to be acceleration marks” leading towards where the cyclist was struck.

Police then contacted a local business where the incident occurred. The business had a surveillance camera that captured the incident, which they provided to police on April 14.

The officer reviewed the footage and found that a gray Chevy truck with a white utility shell on the bed failed to stop while a cyclist was riding down the sidewalk. The cyclist “appeared to ride around the truck, striking its hood with his hand and continuing to ride away,” the affidavit states.

The truck then turned towards the cyclist, accelerated, hit him, and left the area, police said.

On April 19, police contacted the victim and found that he had suffered a broken leg that may require surgery. The victim then told police that he would like to press charges.

A witness at the nearby business then told police that they had seen the incident, and later noticed a truck matching the description parked on the 1900 block of Tobiano Circle. They also provided police with a license plate number.

The officer ran a records check on the vehicle and found no results, but upon contacting the property owner at the location, learned that the vehicle belonged to Russell. The officer responded to the location and found the vehicle matching the description of the truck seen during the incident.

Police then arrested Russell at the residence. When Russell was asked about the incident, he stated that he had picked up a package from UPS, and when he left, “a male riding a bike hit the side and the hood of his truck,” arrest documents state.

“Loren claimed that he felt threatened by the male and left in a hurry, not realizing he had hit him,” the officer wrote in the affidavit. “I questioned why, if he felt threatened, he had not called law enforcement. He admitted that he hadn’t thought about it.”

“Seeing how hard the male was struck, knowing the extent of the male’s injuries, and how damaged the bike was, I don’t believe Loren was unaware he hit the male,” the affidavit states.

Russell was booked into Wasatch County Jail on the aforementioned charges.