Jason Grady Summerhays' blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit, measured more than two hours after his vehicle struck John Chi Sing Lo at a Salt Lake City golf course last August.
Summerhays, 33, left the accident scene, 954 S. Connor St. (2130 East), only to be tracked down by police later that day. His two blood alcohol tests measured 0.22 and 0.21. Prosecutors estimate his vehicle struck Lo going 50 to 58 mph. Lo, 51, died two weeks later as a result of his injuries.
On Friday, Summerhays pleaded guilty to the original charges against him: third-degree felony automobile homicide and class A misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident. He faces up to five years in prison for the felony charge and an additional year for the misdemeanor. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed not to upgrade the auto homicide charge to a second-degree felony.
"We appreciated the fact that he pleaded guilty as charged," prosecutor Roger Blaylock said. "It probably doesn't happen all that often, but according to Mr. Metos, Mr. Summerhays is very distraught. We just wish we could fix things for the victim's family."
Defense attorney G. Fred Metos confirmed Summerhays is "extremely remorseful, and has been since the time of the incident." He added that his client has been involved in treatment and remains alcohol- and drug-free.
He is scheduled to be sentenced March 9. Prior to that, Metos and Blaylock said investigators will find out whether Summerhays had any prior alcohol-related driving offenses.
Lo's family clung tearfully to one another as they left the courtroom Friday. They expressed no anger toward Summerhays, but said they hoped their experience can help others remember to drink responsibly.
"We kind of feel like it's good, to have closure," Lo's sister, Jan Wong, said. "But nothing can bring our brother back. We just wanted to make sure that these things would not happen to other people.
"We want to send a message, that people have to be responsible when they drink, and that we will not tolerate it when people drink and drive," she said.
Wong added she hopes legislators will take notice, and strengthen the state's DUI laws.
"If the public could be a little more aware, hopefully the law — and legislators — will be a little better later on so that other people will not have to go through what we have gone through."
E-mail: jnii@desnews.com