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TOOELE — A man was charged with automobile homicide Monday in connection with a fatal accident two years ago.
Charles Adam Russell, 25, of Tooele County, was charged in 3rd District Court with driving under the influence of alcohol and inflicting serious bodily injury to another, a third-degree felony; automobile homicide, a third-degree felony; and driving under the influence of alcohol, a class B misdemeanor.
On March 4, 2012, Russell was traveling east on state Route 138 in a Hyundai Santa Fe, according to charging documents. Another driver heading west in a Toyota Camry reported seeing the Hyundai's headlights heading east in the westbound lane. The Toyota driver switched lanes, attempting to avoid the Hyundai, but was struck in a near head-on collision.
Rocio Cristal Macias, 26, who was in the front passenger seat of the Toyota, died at the scene. A backseat passenger of the Toyota suffered multiple rib and vertebrae fractures.
Russell said he had consumed one or two beers about three or four hours prior to the collision, according to charging documents. He later told police that he had no recollection of the collision, only driving down Main Street in Grantsville then being at the scene of the collision, police said.
Russell underwent a blood test and was found to have a blood-alcohol content of 0.14, well over the legal limit of 0.08.
A warrant for Russell's arrest was issued Monday, with bail set at $20,000.
