Two cyclists were killed by a Utah woman who allegedly told police her irritable bowel condition caused her to “defecate without warning” shortly before she swerved into her victims.
Police said she swerved into them both on Saturday after her IBS condition caused her to “defecate without warning”, according to a Washington City police affidavit seen by Fox13 and KUTV.
The woman, of Hurricane, Utah, was driving down the same street as the cyclists in the area of Coral Canyon Boulevard and Telegraph Street when she collided with them. Reports identify her as Julie Ann Budge, 47.
Life-saving attempts at the scene were tried, but the two men were unresponsive and were flown to a hospital nearby where they were pronounced dead.
Their names were made public by police on Monday as Matthew Bullard, 48, and Adam Bullard, 49, while a number of tributes were paid by family and friends of the pair.
“Matt and Adam lived a full life, dedicated to Jesus Christ, their families, and each other,” wrote Steve Herrera, the owner of the Cyclery Bike Shop in California where Adam worked, in a GoFundMe.
He added:“Each a rock star in their own right, Adam leaves behind his wife, Shannon, and son Jacob, and Matt leaves behind his wife, April, his son Michael, and his three daughters Amanda, Abby and Sarah”.
In a Facebook post, Matt’s wife wrote: “Today my perfect husband Matthew Bullard and his best friend and brother Adam Bullard were tragically taken away from me, my children and all of you.”
“So many of you have already asked what you can do to help. I ask you to please get down on bended knee and pray for my children and my nephew that they will be able to grieve and feel peace in their hearts,” she added, and shared images of their cycling trip to Utah.
Police said in an earlier statement on Facebook that they were two brothers from California and were “competing in a local bike competition” in Utah. That was thought to have been the ‘Spring Tour of St. George’ group ride through Utah’s Red Mountains.
In an interview following the crash, Ms Budge reportedly told Washington City police she could not stop her car, because of her condition which caused her to “defecate without warning”. Neither did she recall seeing the men.
“A witness at the scene of the accident stated that it appeared that Julie did not have the intention of stopping after hitting the two cyclists,” an officer wrote.
“The witness stated he followed Julie’s vehicle until she pulled over and stopped several hundred yards away from the accident”, the officer added.
The woman allegedly failed a a sobriety test carried out at the scene. She however told police she had been in hospital the previous day and had taken fentanyl through an IV drip.
She was taken into custody and charged for vehicular homicide, failing to remain at the scene of a death, and for DUI (driving under the influence) with serious bodily injury by negligent operation, according to KUTV.
She is also facing a class B misdemeanor charge of reckless driving and an infraction for improper lane travel.
