KEARNS — A man was charged Tuesday with automobile homicide for allegedly crashing his souped-up car into a house while driving at a high rate of speed, killing his sister and brother-in-law who were in the car with him.
Christopher Youngblood picked up his sister, Erica Youngblood, and his brother-in-law, Michael Dye, on Dec. 3 to show them the nitrous oxide system he had installed in his car the night before, according to court documents. The system was designed to boost the power of the vehicle's engine.
As the vehicle approached the intersection of 5600 West and 5400 South, witnesses estimated it was going between 65 mph and 100 mph on the 45 mph road. The vehicle went airborne at the intersection and slid sideways for a long distance into a concrete wall before striking a house at 5585 W. Highwood Drive, according to the charges filed in 3rd District Court.
Christopher Youngblood was found by a neighbor unconscious in the driver's seat and Erica Youngblood was in the passenger seat and not responding, the charges state. Dye was ejected from the vehicle and found lying in the backyard.
After Christopher Youngblood regained consciousness, witnesses said he went to the back of his vehicle and appeared to turn off a gas canister. The canister was later determined to be nitrous oxide.
Erica Youngblood and Dye were pronounced dead at the scene. Christopher Youngblood was taken to a local hospital where after a blood draw his blood-alcohol content was determined to be 0.07, the charges state.
Youngblood was charged with two counts of automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, and misdemeanor speeding.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com
Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam