Joel Lewis Obituary, Death -The father of a man killed in a hit-and-run in West Valley City has demanded that the person responsible for his son’s death be held accountable. Joel Lewis, 39, was killed while crossing the street at 7200 W. 3245 South around 10 p.m. Monday. According to police, a car driving north hit him and did not stop. Lewis died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
The driver is still at large, police believe he was driving a 1999-2006 Chevy or GMC pickup truck. The truck’s driver’s headlight and side mirror would be damaged. Joel Lewis’ father, Robert Lewis, said he learned of his son’s death via text message Monday night. “I opened it and read it, and it said nothing but ‘I’m so sorry.'” Robert Lewis recalled. “I went on Facebook and saw Joel’s status: ‘Rest in peace, rest in peace, rest in peace.’ That’s how I found out he’d left.” Joel Lewis, according to Robert Lewis, was out for a walk when he was hit while on the phone with his mother.
“At the time,” explained Robert Lewis, “he was staying with his mother and going for a walk.” “That’s all. Just for a walk. It was, unfortunately, his last.” Robert Lewis has asked that members of the public keep an eye out for the driver. “Whoever ran over my son went somewhere, maybe to his wife, maybe to a friend,” Robert Lewis explained. “He could not, however, have been acting normally. His demeanor had to have drastically changed. He recognizes that he has a problem.”
He urged residents to contact West Valley police if they witnessed anyone acting suspiciously or a vehicle matching the description provided by investigators. “It could be significant. It may summon this individual to account for his actions and determine why he failed to notice Joel.” Robert Lewis is convinced. His son, who had two children, one of whom was an infant, was described as sensitive and sweet by him. “Joel was a guy who picked up empathy somewhere along the way, even at a young age,” Robert Lewis said. “He was always on the side of the underdog.”
