A Salt Lake City father was in jail Tuesday, the day after allegedly abandoning his two young children injured in his wrecked car while he fled from the scene of a traffic accident.
Salt Lake City police said the suspect rear-ended another vehicle at 600 S. 700 East about 8:25 p.m. Tuesday. He ran from the accident scene on foot, leaving his children, ages 9 and 2, behind, police said.
The children sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. They were then released to a family member, Salt Lake City police Det. Dennis McGowan said.
Police contacted the driver on his cell phone and eventually convinced him to return to the scene.
The 27-year-old man was arrested and booked into Salt Lake County jail, where he remained Wednesday in lieu of $4,956 bail. He was being held on suspicion of class A misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol; class C misdemeanor counts of improper lookout and driving on a denied license; and a class B misdemeanor count of hit and run.
remims@sltrib.com