Utah Teen Arrested for Failure to Remain at the Scene of an Accident

A trade gone wrong between two Utah teenagers left one boy seriously injured and another teen arrested for failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

Stolen property and a faulty getaway

18 year old Bradley Allen and another juvenile male made a deal to trade electronic items when the other male discovered Allen was selling him a stolen cell phone. Allen attempted to leave in his vehicle when the other teenager who was standing in close proximity to the car was accidentally dragged under the vehicle. Although the accident was not intentional, Allen decided to leave and did not remain at the scene, thereby committing a felony.

Third degree felony for failure to remain at the scene

Utah code 41-6a-401.3 states “The operator of a vehicle who has reason to believe that the operator may have been involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person shall: immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible ( . . . ) and remain at the scene of the accident ( . . . ).” If the driver leaves and minor injuries are reported, they will be charged with a class A misdemeanor. If they fail to remain at the scene and there are serious injuries to the other party, they will face a third degree felony.

Poor reaction of a new driver

When a teenager causes an accident where another person is hurt it can be a stressful situation and running away may be their first reaction, although definitely the wrong response. If a teen driver flees the scene and comes to terms with their mistake, they should contact law enforcement immediately and return to the scene if possible. If they fail to remain at the scene and never come clean about the accident, it is recommend they consult with a juvenile defense attorney as charges will be expected.