MONTICELLO — A Texas man accused of killing three people in a crash south of Moab has been ordered to stand trial.
Following a preliminary hearing, Judge Lyle Anderson ruled earlier this week that there was sufficient probable cause to bind David Lewis over for trial on three counts of manslaughter, a second-degree felony.
The charges stem from an Aug. 16 crash on state Route 191 in San Juan County.
Lewis, 28, of Saginaw, Texas, was driving a Nissan Maxima when he tried to pass a tractor-trailer truck in a no-passing zone and touched off a four-car pileup, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
The Nissan slammed into a Hyundai in the oncoming lane, then spun down the road, where it was hit by a Cadillac. The Cadillac went off the shoulder of the road and stopped.
A Toyota traveling behind the Hyundai avoided the crash, but was struck by debris.
A father and daughter riding in Lewis' car — 54-year-old Juan Vidales and 27-year-old Stephanie Vidales — were killed in the crash.
A passenger in the Cadillac, Arthur Loewen, 69, of Perry, Ga., was killed as well. Four other people, including Stephanie Vidales' 10-year-old daughter, were injured.
A two-day jury trial in the case is set to begin July 30.
— Geoff Liesik