TAYLORSVILLE — Police say they believe a minivan found abandoned Monday in Salt Lake City was the vehicle used in a fatal hit-and-run accident involving a 1-year-old girl, but they don't believe the owner was responsible.
Investigators discovered the missing van about noon Monday near 1000 West and 200 South. Search warrants were being obtained Tuesday to go through the vehicle, said Taylorsville police detective Shannon Bennett.
Vicsayra Maribel Garcia, 1, was killed when a minivan made a U-turn outside her home near 800 West and Superior Peak Drive (4605 South) on Friday night, striking and killing her. The van took off after the accident.
Bennett did not release much information about the owner of the vehicle or the suspected driver Monday, or whether contact had been made with the registered owner. He said, however, that detectives did not believe the owner was driving at the time of the accident.
Family members believe the driver is a Hispanic woman in her early 20s who comes to the area every few days to sell shaved ice, corn "clotas" and tamales to residents.
Anyone with information on the driver can call police at 801-743-7000.
— Pat Reavy