Man charged with attempted murder for alleged ‘targeted auto pedestrian crashes’
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday that a man is being charged with 10 felony charges — six of which are attempted murder — and two misdemeanor charges in connection to “his alleged involvement in four targeted auto pedestrian crashes” over a span of seven months.
Anh Duy Pham, 26, is being charged with two counts of failure to stop at injury accident, which are class A misdemeanors, four counts of failure to stop at serious injury accident, which are third-degree felonies and six counts of attempted murder, which are first degree felonies, according to court documents.
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District Attorney Sim Gill said the auto-pedestrian incidents traced back to Pham were “shrouded in the shadow of accidents.” Court documents say Pham does not know the victims involved and targets random women in the area.
He is currently under investigation for at least three other hit-and-runs.
August 22, 2023 — One victim injured
The first incident connected to Pham was in August of 2023. A Salt Lake City officer was dispatched to a crash with injuries in Salt Lake County.
Witnesses reported seeing a car — later confirmed to be registered to Pham — pull up next to a woman before she started to run away, according to a probable cause statement. The victim said Pham asked her to get into the vehicle multiple times and she refused.
Witnesses said the vehicle sped up and hit the woman, “causing her to fly over the vehicle and land on the ground hard,” documents say.
The woman suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention.
February 24, 2024 — Two victims seriously injured
Around Feb. 24, an officer with Sandy Police was dispatched to hit and run “with serious injuries,” court documents say. Witnesses said they found a woman and her daughter lying on the side of the road after the crash, as stated in the probable cause statement.
The same type of car that was involved in the August incident was seen on home security footage “driving down the street three times prior to the accident,” documents say.
According to the probable cause statement, license plate reader cameras confirmed the vehicle was Pham’s and that it was in the area nine minutes after the crash.
The mother suffered blunt force trauma, a bone fracture and an epidural hematoma. Her daughter suffered a scalp laceration in addition to back injuries and abrasions.
February 28, 2024 — Two victims seriously injured
A Salt Lake City officer was dispatched to a hit and run with serious injuries “on or about” Feb. 28, documents say.
A witness said they heard the crash and saw two women lying on the ground. The victims said they were walking when they heard a vehicle accelerating and were struck from behind, the probable cause statement said.
According to court documents, Pham’s vehicle was seen in the area when officers reviewed home security footage.
One victim suffered a concussion and lacerations to her head, among other injuries. The other victim suffered a brain bleed, in addition to a fracture and lacerations, and lost consciousness at the scene.
March 11, 2024 — One victim seriously injured
The March incident took place before 5 a.m. on West North Temple Street in Salt Lake City.
Two witnesses said they saw a white sedan initially approaching at a slow speed. Two other people were waiting for the walk signal before they began crossing, but the white sedan — identified as Pham’s — reportedly sped up and hit one person in the crosswalk.
Documents said the white vehicle “intentionally drove in the direction” of the people in the crosswalk, and that security footage shows the driver did not use his brakes or try to stop.
Investigators found the bumper of the white sedan at the scene and confirmed it was registered to Pham. It was also confirmed that Pham was traveling through Salt Lake starting around midnight.
Earlier in March, investigators said the vehicle did not have damage. Photos from the day after the incident allegedly showed Pham’s vehicle “was missing a front bumper and had extensive damage to the right passenger side of the vehicle.”
The victim had to be intubated and received a skull fracture and brain bleed among other injuries. The victim was still in the hospital at the time Pham was charged on March 25.
March 13, 2024 — Suspect arrested
On March 13, documents say officers found the vehicle at Liberty Park with one person inside, who was identified as Pham.
Pham confirmed that he was the owner of the car and that he was the only one who drove it.
He allegedly told officers he would have waited for police if he was in a crash, but also said he “may have lent the vehicle to one of his friends” before telling police he didn’t let anyone else drive the car.
Pham is being held without bail because he is charged with felonies and he is a “flight risk,” according to court documents.
“Many of the people impacted by these hit-and-runs have very serious physical injuries and the emotional toll on them may last a lifetime,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown said. “We are fortunate none of the victims were killed.”
Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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