Utah man allegedly fatally struck man in car wash parking lot, then got his car cleaned

OGDEN, Utah (TCN) -- Police arrested a 21-year-old man who allegedly ran over a 63-year-old man cleaning a parking lot, then washed his car and fled.

According to the Ogden Police Department, on Oct. 30 at 5:11 p.m., officers received a call about an unconscious male in a parking lot and found the victim deceased. Police learned the victim, Stirling Kelso, had been struck while cleaning the lot even though he didn't work there. The suspect left the area before police arrived.

Officers identified the suspect as Christian Palma and booked him on charges of hit and run — leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license, and failure to maintain a safe and proper lookout.

KSL.com reports Palma told police that after hitting Kelso, he moved his car and started washing it "just feet from the victim." Palma said he "was scared and didn't know what to do."

A witness reportedly spoke to Palma after the incident, but he claimed he did not know what happened. Investigators, however, found Palma's car and noted it had damage to the bumper and undercarriage that was "consistent with an auto vs. pedestrian collision." Palma reportedly does not have a driver's license. He allegedly used a fake U.S. permanent resident card, and police said he "appears to be here illegally from Mexico."

Kelso's obituary described him as a "beloved member of our community" with a "friendly disposition and helpful nature."

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