Logan woman wanted for husband's automobile homicide arrested in Idaho

Logan woman wanted for husband's automobile homicide arrested in Idaho

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LOGAN — A Logan woman wanted on a warrant after police say she killed her husband in a DUI crash was arrested Wednesday in Idaho.

Eska Miller Bird, 42, was charged in December with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony; seven counts of DUI, a class A misdemeanor, and reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor. A warrant for Bird's arrest was issued a week later in conjunction with the charges.

Bird was arrested Wednesday in Pocatello when a detective who was aware of the case recognized Bird when she drove past him, Pocatello Police Lt. Ian Nelson confirmed.

Officers initiated a traffic stop and Bird surrendered without incident, Nelson said.

However, a passenger in her car became confrontational and kicked officers, Nelson said. That woman, 23-year-old Aschia Cornwall, is being investigated for battery of a police officer, which is a felony offense in Idaho, Nelson said.

Bird was behind the wheel on Oct. 28 when Smithfield police say she was speeding down Main Street in a heavy rainstorm and lost control, crashing near 890 South, according to a police affidavit. Surveillance footage showed Bird's vehicle swerved into oncoming traffic, striking another vehicle head-on and causing a chain reaction between three additional drivers and injuring nine of the 10 people in those vehicles.

Bird's husband, William "Bill" Robert Bird, 42, was critically injured and died almost a month later on Nov. 25.

Bird cooperated with police and consented for her medical records to be released, according to the affidavit. Bird tested positive for benzodiazapines, though first responders confirmed she had not been given medication at the scene or en route to the hospital.

In Bird's car, police found a list of prescription drugs including diazapam, prednisone and hydrocodone/aceteminophen, provided to Bird on Oct. 7, the affidavit states. Police also found documentation warning against driving while using the medications, as well as a document with "Friendship Club" — which offers Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous services — circled in ink.

Bird, who had gone to live with her daughter in Pocetello, later told police she had been driving with her husband when a silver Mustang cut her off, causing her to drive into the middle lane and hydroplane, unable to stop, according to the affidavit.

Surveillance footage of the crash as well as witnesses indicate there was no such vehicle, police said. One witness told police that Bird was driving down the median at a high speed just over four blocks from the crash site.

Later, Bird also said that she was "going a little too fast" and attempted to slow down where the speed limit drops to 45 mph but "had no brakes," according to the affidavit. Police said the area Bird described is two and half miles north of the crash, and about five miles from the spot where another complainant estimated she was driving 100 mph, the affidavit states.

Bird is currently in custody in Bannock County Jail and has not waived extradition to Utah, according to Cache County Attorney James Swink. A hearing is scheduled next week in Idaho where Swink hopes Bird will change her mind.

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McKenzie Romero

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