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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A Sandy man was charged Wednesday with hitting and killing a 16-year-old Westlake High School student in May.
Daniel Stanislav MacBeth, 28, is charged in 4th District Court with manslaughter, a second-degree felony; DUI, and being an alcohol restricted driver, class B misdemeanors; and driving on a suspended or revoked license, a class C misdemeanor.
On May 25, Ammon Chandler Blake was making a left turn at the intersection of Redwood Road and Harvest Hills Boulevard when he was hit by a Mercedes 500 that ran a red light, according to police. Blake, a 16-year-old Westlake High School student, was killed in the collision.
MacBeth was traveling between 84 mph and 99 mph at the time of the crash, according to charging documents.
About two miles before the collision, MacBeth was tailgating an off-day officer so closely "that he could not see the hood or front license plate," the charges state. About a mile before the crash, MacBeth "abruptly" changed lanes and sped past the officer.
"As the driver passed, the driver 'gestured his middle finger' toward the officer," according to the charges, which say MacBeth then cut back in front of the officer and "accelerated faster at an unsafe speed" while again sticking his arm out the window and showing his middle finger to the officer.
The officer, who witnessed the crash a short time later, stated that he never saw any brake lights from the Mercedes prior to the collision, the charges allege. Two other witnesses told investigators that the traffic signal had been red for two to three seconds before MacBeth entered the intersection.
When questioned by police, MacBeth allegedly said he "had been drinking alcohol earlier in the morning and that he woke up and was driving to a job." A toxicology report, however, indicated MacBeth had recently used cocaine, the charges state.
He also claimed that when the traffic signal turned yellow, "There's no way I would have enough distance to stop so I (stepped) on the gas," according to the charging documents.
Prosecutors noted that MacBeth was already an alcohol-restricted driver and had a warrant out for his arrest for failing to show up to a court hearing in that case.
MacBeth was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Utah County Jail.
