A Salt Lake City man has been charged with intentionally running down and killing a man on an electric scooter earlier this month.
Robert Johnson Boyatt, 53, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and failure to remain at a fatal crash, a third-degree felony.
On July 3 at 1:15 a.m., police were called to a hit-and-run near Topaz Drive on 1000 North. When they arrived, they found 61-year-old Victor Hershberger, who had suffered multiple injuries, on the ground. First responders provided aid, but he died at the scene.
Witnesses told police they saw a red car make a U-turn before the crash, swerve across the road and plow into the scooter rider, then drive away. According to charging documents, one witness told police Boyatt “slammed [Hershberger] hard from behind and kept going.” Another witness said the driver of the red car “intentionally ran him over and took off.”
Police investigators determined that Boyatt was traveling about 36-38 mph when he struck the rider, who was thrown about 85 feet.
The next day, a witness told police the car involved in the crash — which the witness had sold to Boyatt — was in a parking lot near her residence. When officers investigated, they found blood and other evidence lodged in the shattered windshield.
On July 6, Boyatt was found at a campsite near Grantsville, where he was taken into custody. According to police, Boyatt “changed his story several times, but eventually admitted that he had recognized Victor Hershberger as the person he hit with his car.”
According to a probable cause statement, Boyatt said he had recently learned that his ex-girlfriend and Hershberger had requested a protective order against him.
Boyatt is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County jail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
