July 18, 2000
New information on why a man may have lost control of his vehicle, then hit and killed a Salt Lake City police officer.
Officer Mike Dunman was part of a bicycle unit, and was riding on the sidewalk when a car jumped the curb and hit him.
News Specialist Karen Scullin has more.
Conflicting stories from witnesses and the driver, but detectives have been gathering a lot of evidence and they say they have enough for a case of negligent homicide against the driver in yesterday's accident.
But while they figure out what happened, others pay tribute to a man they loved.
Memorial flowers mark the spot where
Officer Mike Dunman was killed in the line of duty.
Investigators used fire trucks to get aerial shots of the scene..
but they say they already have a pretty good idea of what may have happened.
Sgt. Doug McCleve/Ut. Highway Patrol: PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES POSSIBLY THAT THE DRIVER WAS EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT.
The driver and some witnesses say Yucundo Silva-Cruz's car blew a tire, causing him to lose control.
Investigators disagree, saying the tires blew out only when the suspect's car hit the curb.
AT THIS POINT IN OUR PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE WAS FLAT BEFORE HE LEFT THE ROADWAY, AND IN FACT WE HAVE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.
And at least one witness says the suspect was speeding through a 35 mile per hour zone.
Kim Howa/Witness: ALL OF THE SUDDEN THIS CAR JUMPED THE CURB, COME DOWN THE STREET AND IT WAS TRAVELLING AT SUCH HIGH SPEEDS, HIT A POLICE OFFICER ON A BIKE.
And Howa says a lot of people speed along that stretch of State Street, especially since cars are no longer allowed to park along the street during rush hour. He says it's a new ordinance to help drivers get around I-15 construction.
Kim Howa: THE DANGERS OF STATE STREET BETWEEN 3:30 AND 6:00 IS HORRIBLE.
As investigators prepare to take their case to the District Attorney tomorrow, funeral arrangements for Officer Dunman are underway. He will surely be missed, by family, friends, and members of his bicycle squad.
Capt. Scott Atkinson/Salt Lake City Police Dept.: AT THIS TIME THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO TALK, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. THEY'RE PRETTY TAKEN BACK. THEY'RE A PRETTY CLOSE-KNIT SQUAD.
Investigators say it doesn't appear the driver was impaired by alcohol or anything else, although standard blood test results aren't in yet.
Silva-Cruz was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on negligent homicide.
