A 21-year-old Utah man faces automobile homicide charges after he allegedly drove drunk the wrong way on Interstate 15 and crashed head-on into a car carrying a teenage couple, killing both instantly.
Police arrested Jose Angel Torres Jimenez at the scene early Saturday in Salt Lake County. Investigators say Jimenez, who only had a learner’s permit, showed clear signs of intoxication after crashing his Audi SQ5 into a Nissan Rogue driven by 18-year-old Leo Shepherd. His passenger, 17-year-old Anneka Wilson, also died at the scene.
According to court documents reported by KTVX, a state trooper asked Jimenez whether he felt safe to be driving. He allegedly replied, “No.”
The Utah Department of Public Safety said Jimenez entered northbound I-15 while traveling southbound shortly after midnight. Within minutes, he slammed into the teens’ car, which became “fully engulfed in flames” after the impact.
A trooper who approached Jimenez’s vehicle said he immediately smelled alcohol. Jimenez had slurred speech, glassy and bloodshot eyes, and “very relaxed facial features,” according to the report. During a field sobriety test, he stumbled and admitted he had been drinking.
Family members later identified Shepherd and Wilson as the victims. Wilson’s brother told KUTV that his sister was preparing to graduate high school and study radiology. “We’ve lost two beautiful young souls to yet another DUI,” he said. “Things need to change.”
Jimenez was charged with two counts of automobile homicide, DUI, and violating the conditions of a learner’s permit. He remains booked in the Salt Lake County Jail.
Leave a Reply