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SANDY — An alcohol-restricted driver who police say caused a fatal hit-and-run crash in Sandy is now facing criminal charges.
Joseph Christian Ornelas, 21, of Sandy, was charged Monday in 3rd District Court with negligently operating a vehicle resulting in death, a second-degree felony; leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a third-degree felony; DUI, a class A misdemeanor; driving on a suspended license, being an alcohol restricted driver and driving a vehicle without an interlock device, class B misdemeanors; and failing to obey a traffic signal, an infraction.
On Oct. 8, just after 1 a.m., Ryker Page Reynolds, 22, was stopped at a stoplight on his motorcycle at the intersection of 1300 East and 7620 South, when a 2009 Subaru Impreza driven by Ornelas hit him from behind, according to charging documents.
"Ornelas stated he could see the red brake light on the motorcycle but that he was too close at that point and hit Reynolds. Ornelas stated he left the area because his window shattered and he couldn't see," the charges state.
A few minutes later, Ornelas called police to tell them he had left his car in a parking lot at 8580 S. 1300 East. Officers who found the vehicle noted that it had "heavy center front damage, a shattered windshield, airbags deployed with blood on the bag and steering wheel and was missing the front bumper," according to the charges.
A mostly empty bottle of alcohol and drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. Ornelas allegedly admitted to drinking and "consuming a psychoactive THC product prior to the incident," the charges state.
"Officers confirmed that Ornelas had a suspended license and was an alcohol-restricted driver which required an interlock device on all vehicles he operates. Officers confirmed that the Subaru did not have an interlock device on the steering column," the charges state.
A crash reconstruction team determined that Ornelas was traveling between 33 mph to 35 mph when he hit Reynolds, police said.
Ornelas has a prior DUI conviction in Midvale Justice Court and an interlock violation conviction in Orem Justice Court.
