Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — A man who pleaded guilty to hitting and killing an assistant Cottonwood High football coach while driving under the influence was ordered to prison Monday.
Blake Timothy Molder, 24, was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for automobile homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, a second-degree felony, in the June 23 death of Michael Gallegos, 39.
"The debt to society that you owe is vast," 3rd District Judge James Blanch said. "The debt is prison."
Early that morning, Gallegos was struck from behind while stopped at the intersection of 9800 South and Bangerter Highway. Police officers said the impact buckled the frame of his car until the back of the vehicle touched the back of the front seats, killing Gallegos on impact.
Gallegos' wife, Debbie, said her husband left around 10 p.m. on June 22 for a birthday party in downtown Salt Lake City. She doesn't know what took him to Bangerter and 9800 South at 3 a.m., but thinks he may have been giving a friend a ride.
There were no skid marks or signs of braking before the crash and speed was estimated at more than 90 mph, according to charging documents.
After he was treated at a hospital, Molder told police he was driving from a bar where he had three beers and a shot of tequila. He also admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day, the charges state. Molder's blood alcohol level was later found to be .116, above the legal limit in Utah of .08
Gallegos had just finished his 18th year of coaching football at Cottonwood High School. Debbie Gallegos said her husband had coached at Highland, East and Cottonwood high schools in sports as varied as wrestling, football, golf and softball and that it was his passion.
Molder pleaded guilty in October. In exchange for his plea, misdemeanor charges of a traffic control signal violation and speeding 95 mph in a 60 mph zone were dismissed.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
