Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST VALLEY CITY — After months of investigation, a woman has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident.
Kiersten Jeanne Tomasini, 22, who is listed as homeless, was charged Nov. 27 in 3rd District Court with theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony; and leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a third-degree felony.
On April 16, the body of Hairon Freyre-Portuondo, 20, was found lying in the road at 1855 W. 3188 South. Police say he was run over by a Ford F-350 driven by Tomasini, according to charging documents. The truck was stolen two weeks earlier, the charges state.
Investigators determined that Tomasini and Freyre-Portuondo had gotten in an argument while driving in the truck, and that Freyre-Portuondo, who was a passenger, jumped out of the vehicle. At that point, Tomasini did a U-turn and ran over him, causing fatal injuries, according to the charges. She told police she felt the tire run over Freyre-Portuondo.
“She said she was so scared that she left,” the charges state.
Tomasini was initially arrested for investigation of manslaughter, though in her jail booking affidavit, she told police she did not run over Freyre-Portuondo intentionally.
The Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Freyre-Portuondo “suffered massive head trauma along with abrasions on his body consistent with rolling on the road,” according to the Salt Lake County Jail report
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office was left to decide whether Tomasini intentionally ran over the man she had just been arguing with. The D.A. decided not to file a manslaughter charge.
Tomasini made an initial court appearance on Tuesday. She is scheduled to be back in court Dec. 23.
