- An arrest warrant was issued for Peter James Bristol for obstruction of justice.
- Bristol allegedly helped Keelan Ross Bergeron flee a hit-and-run crash scene in 2024.
- The crash involved a woman in a wheelchair, causing her severe injuries.
SOUTH SALT LAKE — An arrest warrant has been issued for a man who police say helped his friend flee the scene of an auto-pedestrian crash involving a woman in a wheelchair.
Peter James Bristol, 32, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with obstruction of justice, a third-degree felony.
About 11:15 p.m. on March 31, 2024, South Salt Lake police responded to a crash at 3900 S. State involving a woman in a wheelchair.
"The investigation identified the driver of the vehicle that fled the scene as Keelan Ross Bergeron," according to charging documents. "Security footage from local businesses showed that (the victim) was traveling through the crosswalk of the intersection on a green light in a motorized wheelchair when the black sedan ran the red light and struck (her), dragging her and the wheelchair across the intersection. Video showed that the driver of the black sedan did not initiate his brake lights until halfway through the intersection. Once (the victim) fell off of the vehicle, the driver drove west from the scene."
A nearby officer spotted Bergeron's vehicle and noted the front bumper was missing, the front passenger headlight was out, and "the vehicle appeared to be dragging something underneath the front end," the charges state.
The officer then turned his attention to the victim as "(Bergeron) proceeded to continue west on 3900 South before turning north onto Main Street and entering a parking lot to leave his vehicle. (He) then exited the vehicle and was observed walking toward State Street, looking around the building toward the accident scene, and then turning around and heading north on State Street, away from the scene, failing to render aid to the victim."
The woman suffered "multiple broken ribs, a broken pelvis, and a broken leg" and "had to have a plate placed between her ribs and lungs due to the injuries suffered," according to the charges.
Bergeron, 24, of Holladay, was charged in 2024 with failing to remain at the scene of an accident with serious injuries and obstruction of justice, third-degree felonies; driving on a suspended license and not having insurance, class C misdemeanors; and running a red light, an infraction. A warrant was issued for his arrest, which remained outstanding as of Friday, according to court records.
According to charging documents filed Friday against Bristol, Bergeron contacted Bristol seven times immediately after the crash. According to GPS data from Bristol's cellphone, he traveled to South Salt Lake after being contacted, investigators say.
"GPS data showed that both Bristol and Bergeron's cellphones left the scene together, confirming that Bristol picked up Bergeron after the hit-and-run. Detectives attempted to speak with Bristol at his last known address and were unable to locate him," the charges state.
