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DESERET, Millard County — An 18-year-old man who was allegedly driving drunk on a rural road when he crashed, killing his 15-year-old female passenger, has been charged with automobile homicide.
George Jakob Schafer, of Delta, was charged Monday in 4th District Court with the second-degree felony, in addition to failing to remain at the scene of an accident, a third-degree felony; DUI with serious injury, a third-degree felony; and consumption of alcohol by a minor, a class B misdemeanor.
On Friday, Schafer was driving at an excessive rate of speed just after midnight on a dirt and gravel road southwest of Delta when he lost control and tried to overcorrect, causing the vehicle to roll several times into a field, according to investigators. His passenger, Noelia Orona, 15, of Delta, died at the scene.
Millard County sheriff's deputies were called after Schafer began knocking on doors of nearby residents. One resident told deputies that Schafer told her "there was an accident," according to charging documents.
A responding deputy could not initially find Schafer, but said he later showed up at the crash site as detectives were investigating, the charges state. Schafer told the deputy he had been drinking, according to charging documents. When tested, his blood-alcohol content registered at 0.10, the charges state. The legal limit for an adult is 0.08.
Prosecutors charged him with leaving the scene of an accident for "not making efforts to notify law enforcement," the charges state.
An initial court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday.
