Estimated read time: 1-2 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
MURRAY — A woman who police say had a blood-alcohol level more than four times the legal limit is facing criminal charges tied to a fatal crash involving a motorcycle.
Catherine Thulin, 48, of Sandy, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with negligently operating a vehicle resulting in death, a second-degree felony; DUI and being an alcohol-restricted driver, class B misdemeanors; and two traffic infractions for making an unsafe lane change and failing to stop or yield to another vehicle.
Thulin was heading north on State Street on Jan. 24 when she attempted to make a left turn at 5900 South and failed to yield to an oncoming motorcycle, according to charging documents. Christian Anthony Shupe, 37, collided with Thulin's car and was pronounced dead at the scene.
"While speaking with Thulin, officers smelled an odor of alcohol coming from her … and observed that her speech was thick and delayed. Thulin informed officers that she had consumed eight beers the night prior," the charges state. "Intoxilyzer results showed Thulin had a blood-alcohol level of 0.206% at the time of arrest, two hours following the collision."
Thulin allegedly told police she had woken up at 11 a.m. that day and started drinking again. "Thulin stated she had a couple but could not say how many," according to charging documents.
Police say Thulin is an alcohol-restricted driver whose driver's license had expired. She has three prior DUI convictions in Wyoming, the charges say.
Shupe was riding his "beloved custom hardtail Harley" at the time of the crash, his family said on a GoFundMe page.
