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SALT LAKE CITY — A Highland man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash in Washington County in 2019.
Christopher Weaver, 37, was charged last week in 5th District Court with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony; and speeding, an infraction.
On Oct. 12, Weaver was speeding on state Route 9 in a Ford F-350 truck when he approached the intersection at Telegraph Street, according to charging documents. Weaver smashed into the rear of a Mazda 3 stopped at the traffic light, killing driver Kylie Park, the charges state. The Mazda was pushed into the rear of a Chevy Silverado, which in turn was pushed into a Toyota Tacoma.
“A report from the Office of the Medical Examiner concluded that Park died from multiple blunt force injuries as a result of the traffic accident,” according to charging documents.
Weaver was treated at a local hospital for injuries. He told police that he “blacked out” and that he had problems with his brakes, the charges state.
“A crash study was conducted following the incident confirmed that there was excessive wear to the brakes on (Weaver’s) truck. The study also showed (he was) traveling at a high rate of speed of 72 mph in a 60 mph zone prior to impact. He began to brake just prior to impact, hitting the Mazda at 57 mph,” the charges state.
A blood test revealed Oxycodone in Weaver’s system.
“His estranged wife told officers during the investigation that the defendant had an addiction to prescription medication and had planned on attending substance abuse counseling,” according to charging documents.
Three months after the fatal crash, Weaver was charged with DUI in Iron County Justice Court for another incident in January, according to court records. His next scheduled hearing in that case is Aug. 20.
According to a search warrant affidavit for his January arrest, Weaver was spotted on I-15 “swerving all over, and could not maintain lane of travel.”
“A prescription pill bottle and an opened bottle of liquor within Weaver’s reach was found inside the vehicle Weaver was driving,” the officer wrote in the warrant. “Based on my training and experience, the amount of medication being consumed along with the presence of alcohol in Weaver’s blood-alcohol content is a sign of substance abuse.”
