Fourteen-year-old Keily Spendlove was walking home from Kearns Junior High in May when she heard a horn honk and turned to see a white car coming down the sidewalk toward her.
Spendlove jumped out of the way, pushing off the car with one hand as it flew past and accelerated toward a group of other students, Spendlove testified Friday during a 3rd District Court preliminary hearing.
Seconds later, Spendlove said, "I saw bodies flying up into the air, shoes flying up, and cell phones flying all over."
Luckily, no one was seriously injured during the May 6 episode, although three boys were treated for scrapes and bruises at a hospital.
The driver, 50-year-old Luka Wall Kang, was charged with 12 counts of aggravated assault, six for students either struck or touched by the car and six for students who narrowly avoided being hit along 4015 West near 5600 South.
After hearing testimony from Spendlove and a handful of other students, 3rd District Judge Anthony Quinn ordered Kang to stand trial on the charges, which are third-degree felonies punishable by up to five years in prison.
Investigators have said they believe Kang purposely aimed his car at the students. No reason for Kang's alleged behavior was given during the hearing.
However, the day before the episode, Kang -- a refugee from Sudan who is now an American citizen -- had expressed during a bus ride that he was depressed and frustrated with his new life, according to Bill Anderson of South Salt Lake, who reported the encounter to The Tribune .
Another explanation came from a friend of Kang's, Gak Dhol, who has told The Tribune that Kang suffers from bad eyesight because of an industrial accident.
In addition to Spendlove, four witnesses testified the car sped up after hitting the first two victims: Leonardo Flores, 15, who was knocked into a fence, and Kolby Larsen, 14, who flew over the top of the car.
Next to be hit were Spendlove and Sabrina Perea, 13, who testified that the driver of the car had "both hands on the wheel and he was looking straight at us." Perea said the car brushed her back as she jumped into a driveway.
Cesar Garcia, 15, who was knocked unconscious, testified that all he recalls is waking up with scratches covering his body.
The last to be hit was Tomas Perez, 13, who rode on the hood of the car for about 200 feet until it struck a brick retaining wall, flipped onto its top and threw Perez onto the sidewalk.
Lorenzo Perez, 16, testified of watching his younger brother and hearing him yell as he was carried by the car. Lorenzo said he ran up to find Tomas was "scraped up and couldn't get up."
Kang, who is being held at the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail, is to appear for a scheduling hearing Dec. 11 before 3rd District Judge Deno Himonas.
