VEYO — A man was arrested for a DUI after Sunday’s ATV accident in Veyo which killed a 17-year-old boy. More details surrounding the incident have been released by the Utah Highway Patrol after completing its primary investigation.
The man charged with the DUI has been identified as Makay Stephens, 27, from Brookside. The 17-year-old boy who died in the incident is from Santa Clara but his name has not been released by authorities.
On Sunday at approximately 5:05 p.m., Stephens, on an ATV, was following the boy who was driving a dirt bike southbound on Spanish Trail Drive in Veyo. The boy stopped on the road and Stephens didn’t, according to the UHP statement. Stephen’s ATV struck the rear tire of the boy’s dirt bike causing the dirt bike to catapult and Stephen’s ATV to roll.
The boy was wearing a helmet but was killed as a result of the impact and died at the scene of the crash. Stephens sustained minor injuries and was subsequently arrested for DUI.
Initially, the boy stopped near 115 North on Spanish Trail Drive as a friend approached on an ATV from the opposite direction. This friend witnessed the crash and called for help.
Although in the Washington County Sheriff’s area, the Sheriff’s Office requested that UHP investigate the incident, UHP spokesperson Jalaina Hawkes said.
Stephens was initially booked into Washington County’s Purgatory Correctional Facility on a DUI charge. The county attorney’s office is currently reviewing the case to determine appropriate charges to be brought.
This report is based on preliminary information released by responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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Was there any trace of alcohol in the teenager?
This is very sad. I’m so sorry for the families involved. We had 3 serious accidents this weekend, and all 3 of them involved DUI.
All accidents this weekend involved carelessness driving. Trace alcohol doesn’t mean they were inebriated. Start testing people in accidents for prescription drugs around here, and the results probably will fly off the charts since prescription drug abuse is really high in this state.
He was over 21, so “trace alcohol” wouldn’t result in a DUI (minimum of .08 BAC). I know several people in my neighborhood that were arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs (and should have been). DUI’s kill almost 11,000 people a year. Please don’t try to lessen that by trying to divert attention elsewhere, even if it is to something legitimate and serious, like prescription drugs (or texting, as in another story on SGN today).
It was a tragic accident, the man that was arrested is the sweetest guy! This makes it sound as though he purposely hit the boy. No one was there to see what really happened but a few people. So stop making it out as though this was one persons doing!
This “sweetest guy” was booked on DUI w/prior and felony homicide. Yep, a real sweetheart all right.
But no big deal, right? He just killed a kid. Nothing serious. People who defend these “sweetest guys” just make me want to puke.
Just like people defended those 3 “boys” who assaulted the girl?
Your…stupid. Someone shouldn’t be riding an atv while drunk. The dirt bike kid did not 1 thing wrong. Dumb alcoholics. Learn from all the deaths drunks cause. The 17 year old was 1 of 2 kids to die from his high school this past weekend. Prayers go out to his family and the Johnson family.
he killed my friend. that man wasn’t thinking and he started driving an ATV. he hit my friend and now he is gone. He should have known better to stay off the roads. he should have freaking thought about it. that kid wont be able to walk at graduation, he wont be able to ride dirt bikes any more he is gone. his family wont get to talk to him at dinner, about how school was, because he is gone. because that man wasn’t paying attention and hit my friend. he is gone. don’t you dare try to tell me i am wrong, because that man was all in the wrong. it is his fault my friend is gone.
He hit my friend too my friend from the youngest ages of life I watch him grow into the person you know him as and Austin would want to puke looking at the … you people are saying things happen everyday that take people away from us look at the jeeping accident that left 1 boy dead should the driver spend the rest of his life in jail because he was going a little too fast even though he “New better” most of you would say no
Ed. ellipsis
How fast were they going, and shouldn’t ATVers allow some space between them?
The guy who did this made a stupid selfish decision to operate an atv drunk and killed someone. People who function like this are selfish and inconsiderate and deserve the prison time he’s going to get.
I dint think the article said he intentionally hit the boy. But, alchol impairs sight and your ability to respond and react in certain situations. The driver was old enough to know that driving a motor vehicle (this is not limited to cars and trucks) while under the influence is illegal. He is also old enough to know how alcohol can effect a person. He may be a nice guy who made a very stupid choice, like many human beings do. However, his drinking may have very well contributed in the death of this child and he will have to deal with the consequences of his choice.
Texters make bad decisions which kill people.
My son was called to go out and help him. The boy died in my sons arms. The affect that this has had on the families, community, and my son are indescribable! If the District Attorney does not file charges, maybe we need to look at putting someone else in that position, who will seek justice. This will never leave my sons memories and he will never be the same. The family will never have their son to hug and they also will never be the same!
Agreed he should go to prison!!!
Stephens family I hope you will have so much comfort given to you at this time that you’ll be overwhelmed with love.
Austin didn’t deserve what happened. He was stopped at a stop sign and was hit from behind. My school has lost two great guys in one day. I hope that justice will be served. Thoughts and Prayers are with your family. We all love you.
This was all pure accident and that is it. The news and booking say DUI because he had traces of alcohol that does not mean he was drunk and stupid. I know the whole story I was there. There was nothing anyone could have done to avoid this tragic accident! The family’s of both people are going through so much all the negative comments don’t help. This accident could have happened to anyone.. The alcohol had nothing to do with how this happened. Everyone just assumes because it’s says DUI that he was way beyond impaired.
Your post is so stupid you can’t even begin to see how stupid it is. Grow up for God’s sake!
Read the follow-up article. The driver who hit Austin admitted to having “not less than 12 beers” (his words). That is NOT “traces of alcohol”. In addition, he has TEN previous arrests/convictions across the state for substance abuse, one of them a felony. He’s a menace to society and needs to be locked up.
When someone has knowingly put something into their body that impairs their judgement, coordination, and motor function (as alcohol does), then they KNOWINGLY put others at risk. This was NOT an accident. It may have been unintended, but there was forethought as he chose to drink and then chose to drive, knowing full well the possible outcome.
Copied and pasted from the article… Stephens admitted to drinking “less than twelve beers,” so I don’t know what article you were reading. I am not defending him, just pointing out that your point is pointless. Make sure you’re reading correctly before making yourself sound silly. And wow, not all of his convictions were for substance abuse. Did you even read the article or just scan it and come up with your own conclusions? This is how rumors get started and you’re comments do more harm than good for everyone involved. Just some friendly advice… read and understand the story before making bogus claims about what you’ve read! If I didn’t know any better, I would think you worked for Fox or CNN.
Every persons is not perfect there r too sides to every story. listen before u speak we are all here for a short time sorry for both family’s