The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Utah teen may face multiple charges after a single-vehicle accident alleged to be caused by his driving under the influence reportedly took the life of his 16-year-old passenger.
In the early morning hours of March 30, an 18-year-old was driving a truck on Utah State Route 36 in the Rush Valley area of Tooele County with a 16-year-old young man in the passenger seat. The posted speed limit was reported as being 65 MPH, but the man was allegedly traveling at 85 MPH. According to reports, the pickup ended up going off the road and rolling over, and both men were thrown from the vehicle onto the ground, and the 16-year-old was severely injured.
When the authorities learned about the accident, a trooper from the Highway Patrol headed to the site, where a sheriff’s deputy was there and giving the younger man CPR. The trooper, who believed he smelled alcohol, took over for the sheriff, but when EMS arrived, the teenager was pronounced dead. The driver was given a breath test, and his BAC was recorded as 0.18. When speaking with the authorities, he allegedly said he had a few beers at a social gathering. His truck and the surrounding area were searched, and several empty alcohol containers were reportedly found.
The man was taken into custody and booked into the Tooele County Jail. He is facing many preliminary charges, including second-degree felony automobile homicide, class B misdemeanor driving under the influence, class B misdemeanor alcohol restricted driver, class B misdemeanor purchase, possess, consume by minor – measurable amounts, class B misdemeanor reckless driving, class B misdemeanor use or possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and traffic infractions for speeding, failure to wear a seat belt, failure to operate a vehicle in a single lane, and purchase or possession or tobacco by a minor. According to reports, he is currently being held in the facility without bail.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.