Arrest made in fatal hit and run in Murray crosswalk from July

MURRAY, Utah (ABC4) — A Utah man described as a habitual DUI offender has been arrested in connection to the July hit and run in a Murray crosswalk that killed 53-year-old Kimberley Jean Jespersen.

Nathan Michael Portillo, 24, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death, obstruction of justice, speeding, unsafe lane travel, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, and threat of violence.

On July 31, Jespersen was crossing 4500 South from the southeast corner of State Street when she was struck by a passenger car. After this initial minor collision, a truck approached the intersection, swerved to avoid hitting the stopped passenger car, and hit Jespersen. Jespersen was critically injured and later died in the hospital due to her injuries.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Jespersen was talking to the driver of the passenger car when the light at the intersection turned green. The truck driver narrowly missed hitting the passenger car and struck Jespersen.

After reviewing video footage and speaking to witnesses, police were able to identify the truck as a 2014 GMC Sierra pickup truck. Witnesses and cell phone data reportedly identified Portillo as the driver of the truck at the time of the crash.

Allegedly, before the crash, Portillo was driving the truck from Magna while heavily intoxicated. The passenger in the truck, described as an intimate partner of Portillo’s, told police that he was driving erratically, speeding, and telling the passenger that he would kill them both.

When the truck slowed down, the passenger jumped out of the moving truck and luckily sustained only minor scrapes to her knees. According to the affidavit, his threats of killing her and reckless driving scared her enough to jump out of a moving vehicle in order to flee.

Video analysis determined that the truck was traveling at least 55 miles per hour leading up to the crash, and Portillo also allegedly made an unsafe lane change by moving his truck into an occupied lane.

Portillo was also driving on a suspended license, which was suspended due to a drug offense. Following the crash, he allegedly attempted to avoid detection by repairing the damage to the front of the truck.

The arresting officer requested Portillo be held without bail, stating that Portillo is a habitual DUI offender and that he has continued to drink excessively since the accident. Reportedly, there are also several warrants out for Portillo’s arrest, and the arresting officer argued that he would not be likely to appear for scheduled court dates.

Portillo is currently being held in the Salt Lake County Jail without bail.