Utah driver targeted, (and) hit multiple female pedestrians at random

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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who investigators believe has been driving around the Wasatch Front and intentionally hitting female pedestrians at random is now facing multiple charges of attempted murder.

Ahn Duy Pham, 26, who prosecutors say is homeless and was living out of his car, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with six counts of attempted murder, a first-degree felony; four counts of failing to stop at an accident with serious injury, a third-degree felony; and two counts of failing to stop at an accident with injury, a class A misdemeanor.

Prosecutors say Pham "has targeted females in crosswalks and walking along the roads" and "does not know the female victims and has been choosing females at random to hit," according to charging documents.

Pham is also under investigation for at least two other hit-and-run incidents in Salt Lake City and one in Summit County, the charges state.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill called the alleged crimes "predatory targetings shrouded in the shadow of accidents." While they are only allegations right now, he said the evidence is "disturbing."

"There's evidence that he saw individuals," Gill said. "He actually drove by several times, identifying these individuals."

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Police say the first incident occurred on Aug. 22 when Samantha Matthews was hit near 1000 West and 500 South. Pham pulled up to Matthews and asked her several times to get into his car before she started to run away, according to the charges. Witnesses say the vehicle then "sped up and hit Samantha, causing her to fly over the vehicle and land on the ground hard" as the car sped away. The woman suffered minor injuries.

On Feb. 24, Sandy police were called to a hit-and-run near 1700 East and 11500 South. Jocelyn Peirce and her 16-year-old daughter, Madalyn, were walking in the shoulder when they were hit by a car. Surveillance video later collected by police showed Pham's vehicle "driving down the street three times prior to the accident. Security footage showed that on the third pass down the street, the white Toyota is driving slowly in the bicycle lane," the charges state. "Jocelyn suffered an epidural hematoma, temporal bone fracture and blunt force trauma. (Madalyn) suffered a scalp laceration, back injuries and abrasions."

Four days later, on Feb. 28, Salt Lake police were called to a hit-and-run crash at Douglas Avenue and Laird Avenue. Martha Knudsen and Janette Brummett were hit by a car from behind. One woman said she "heard a vehicle accelerating" before being hit, according to the charges.

"Martha suffered a concussion, lacerations to her head, and fractured front teeth," the court documents say. "Janette lost consciousness at the scene and suffered a brain bleed, a concussion, hand fracture, and lacerations to her head and scalp."

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