Motorist admits to intentionally hitting 11-year-old girl 'because she was white,' police say

A motorist in Utah told detectives he intentionally hit an 11-year-old girl last week "because she was white," KUTV-TV reported, citing a probable cause statement.

Steven Becky, 19, was arrested Friday for attempted criminal homicide and driving under the influence after the late Friday morning incident in Draper, the station said.

Becky waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with detectives when he admitted to hitting the girl because of her race, KUTV said.

What happened?

Surveillance video obtained from the scene showed a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta driving north on the wrong side of the road, the station said, citing the probable cause statement released Saturday.

The vehicle then took a "sharp right" turn toward an 11-year-old girl who was walking her electric scooter up the hill on the east side of the road, KUTV said. The vehicle struck the girl and then overturned, the station added.

Image source: KSTU-TV video screenshot

A witness told police that after exiting the vehicle, Becky walked toward the injured girl and stated, "We have to die sometime," KUTV reported, citing the probable cause statement.

Image source: KSTU-TV video screenshot

The witness added to officers that Becky "charged" at the victim in an aggressive manner and that the witness restrained Becky — who was trying to leave the scene of the crash — until authorities arrived, the station said.

Officers identified Becky as the driver and said he was "engaging in erratic behavior," uncooperative, aggressive, and unsympathetic toward the victim, KUTV reported.

While being held down, Becky admitted using Xanax and marijuana, the station said, citing the probable cause statement. At a hospital Becky admitted to a doctor that he used LSD and mushrooms, KUTV reported. After his release from the hospital, Becky was taken into custody and booked into Utah County Jail, the station said.

What happened to the girl?

The girl was transported to a hospital with serious injuries, including a fractured hip and head injury, KUTV said. Police told KSTU-TV a helmet likely prevented the girl from suffering more serious injuries and that she's expected to recover.

Investigators also told KSTU that Becky has a connection to the victim.

"Mr. Becky is staying in the area with an aunt and uncle," Draper Police Chief John Eining told the station. "The aunt and uncle have a daughter that is the same age as our victim and they are friends."