Paul Michael Mumford the man accused of causing a July 3rd multiple fatal car crash near Wendover had more than three time the legal limit of alcohol in his blood said Tooele County Attorney Doug Hogan.
According to blood test released Tuesday mum ford’s blood alcohol content taken shortly after the accident was 02.4 four time the 0.08 that defines driving under the influence in Utah.
“It is about the equivalent of drinking a 12 pack of beer in an hour or a bottle of hard liquor over the same time,” Hogan said.
Mumford was arraigned Monday on three counts of open murder in Utah’s Third District Court by the Tooele County Attorney’s office. It was his first court appearance.
Mumford is accused of killing Delphine John, 44, and her daughters Delilah Ramirez, 20, and Anaya Adame Orozco, 3, all of Farmington when he crashed head on into their SUV while driving on the wrong side of Interstate 80. The only occupant of the SUV who survived was identified as Jose Fidel Adame Orozco, 36 is now conscious after being a week in a coma. He was informed of his wife’s and children’s death shortly after he awoke.
“I understand he took it very, very hard,” Hogan said.
Mumford could be facing the death penalty said Gary K. Searle Chief Deputy Tooele County Attorney
Mumford according to Searle the number of deaths alone could qualify Mumford a trip to Death Row.
“One of the special circumstances in Utah law that makes one eligible for the death penalty is the number of deaths,” Searle explained. “If more than two deaths are involved one could be eligible.”
As the only victim recovers and as Mumford waits in jail the Tooele Attorney’s office is building its case against him.
Working with the West Wendover Police Department and with the cooperation of the city’s casinos investigators have collected security surveillance tapes and hotel records to review Mumford’s actions and where abouts the hours before the crash.
According to Utah Highway Patrol reports shortly before the crash several calls of an erratic pickup truck driver were received around 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Witnesses told police the driver of a pickup truck identified as Mumford stopped in the median at one point, and another driver told him he needed to stop driving. Another driver, who had observed the pickup truck driver’s alleged reckless driving, also pulled into the median and confronted him. The pickup truck driver then turned around and drove away. According to UHP, the pickup driver then made a U-turn and drove east on the westbound lanes, ultimately colliding head-on with the Suburban at 80 mph.
The Suburban involved in the incident had the engine knocked out of it.
According to the charging documents Mumford spoke briefly to UHP troopers after the crash.
“Mr. Mumford stated that he left Wendover and must have fallen asleep. He did not remember anything about the accident, ” according to the charges.
Mumford then asked the trooper if anyone had been hurt or died in the crash. When the investigator told him yes, he stopped answering his questions and asked for an attorney, the charges state.
A warrant for cash-only $400,000 bail was issued for Mumford.
Mumford had a long history of drinking, driving and violence according to Salt Lake County Jail records.
Going back at least as far as 2000 Mumford was arrested no less than six times most of the charges either stem from DUI’s, public intoxication or domestic violence jail records indicate.
There is however a nine year gap between an October 2005 arrest for hit and run and a June 2014 arrest of domestic assault.
