Criminal charges have been filed against four people in connection with a deadly street racing crash in West Valley City.
The four were charged Tuesday in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court for their roles in the events that led to the death of George Tuiasoa, 26, who was ejected from a car in a Feb. 21 crash near 4700 South and 4000 West. Two men — Daniel Junior Maestas, 35, and Alexander David Bloomfield, 27 — have been charged with second-degree felony automobile homicide, among other charges. Ilaiasi Don Tuitupou, 25, and Alecia Elaine Downard, 22, both face an obstruction of justice charge. Downard is also facing drug charges.
The five were celebrating a birthday at a strip club, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal charges.
"All five individuals were drinking alcohol throughout the night. All five individuals left the bar near closing time," West Valley City police officer D. Mower wrote. "Daniel Maestas was driving a blue Cadillac registered to him with George Tuiasoa in the front passenger seat."
The others piled into Bloomfield's Chevrolet Impala, detectives said. About 1:50 a.m., police saw the two cars driving down 5400 South at speeds well over 100 miles per hour.
"The Cadillac was driving in the middle turn lane and the other vehicle was driving side-by-side, going at least 80-100 miles per hour," Mower wrote.
Police said the Cadillac crashed in the intersection of 4700 South and 4000 West, ejecting Tuiasoa and Maestas. Tuiasoa was killed; Maestas was flown to the hospital.
"Also found in the Cadillac were eight opened bottles of beer, three of which still had beer in them, as well as six unopened bottles of beer," Mower wrote.
The other three were questioned and prosecutors allege two of them lied to investigators about who was involved in the crash.
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com