A Salt Lake man accused of a fatal DUI in 2016 has now been charged with vehicular homicide. Isaac James Hernansez, 29, is now facing charges of automobile homicide, a second-degree felony; Driving under the influence, a third-degree felony; as well as obstruction of justice and another DUI charge, both filed as class A misdemeanors. Forensic evidence recovered from airbags inside the vehicle showed that Hernandez's friend had not been the driver of the vehicle, as he had initially told police.
The charges stem from a rollover accident that took place on July 25, 2016. Troopers with Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call regarding the crash on I-80 around 2 a.m., and found one man had been ejected from the vehicle, as well as two others who were injured as a result of the accident. The man who had been ejected was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to charging documents Hernandez was reported to be "walking around frantically" and that troopers noticed "a strong smell of alcohol on his breath." A blood test performed at a nearby hospital showed that his blood alcohol content was .014%, which is nearly twice the legal limit.
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