One Killed With Homicide Charges Pending in Utah Rollover Accident Involving Alcohol
Date: May 22, 2009
Location: 7600 S. Highland Drive
Type: Utah drunk driving crash, Utah wrongful death
The Salt Lake Tribune has reported that a Utah resident may be charged with automobile homicide. According to reports, Jerome Joe Richard was driving his Chevy S10 truck on May 10 while under the influence. He and his passenger, Shelynda DeJoelie, were heading south near 7600 S. and Highland Drive and Richard suddenly drove the vehicle onto the raised median to pass the vehicle ahead of him. As he drove his truck off the median, he flipped it. DeJoelie was ejected from the vehicle and died from her injuries. Under Utah State law, Richard could face up to five years in prison for an automobile homicide felony.
Did you know that a drunk driving car accident occurs every 32 seconds? This results in over 17,000 fatalities nationwide every year. In Utah, 19% of fatal traffic accidents are the result of someone driving under the influence. Drunk driving is a very real and very dangerous threat. Safety advocate groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving have been lobbying for legislation that would enact measures to prevent repeat DUI offenders. One such method is the ignition breath, a device which locks into a car’s ignition. Before the car will start, the driver must breathe into the device. If there is a trace of alcohol on the driver’s breath, the car will not start. To read more about the ignition lock system and other measures that can help prevent Utah drunk driving fatalities, visit the Christensen Law Firm’s online library and read the article “Ignition Interlock System Could Save Lives.”
