Police: Driver in crash had blood alcohol level 4 times legal limit

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Cottonwood Heights police arrested a man who they said hit two other vehicles and had a .318 blood-alcohol content.

The incident happened around 5:30 Saturday afternoon near Fort Union Boulevard and 2000 East. Sergeant J.D. Tazoi said Stanley Gurule was in the McDonald’s drive-thru when he blacked out. Tazoi said Gurule’s truck rolled forward and hit the car in front of him. Tazoi said that car got out of the way, then the truck hit another car, pushing it out into traffic on 2000 East. Tazoi said Gurule came to and put the truck in reverse, but the truck spun around, then went across six lanes of traffic on 2000 East in reverse. The truck ended up straddling a concrete barrier between Zions Bank and Starbucks.

Tazoi said it was surprising that no passing vehicles were hit when the truck crossed 2000 East.

“Very impressive. It’s amazing to me that that happened like that,” Tazoi said.

According to a probable cause statement, police said Gurule submitted to a chemical test which showed he had a blood-alcohol content of .318, nearly four times the legal limit.

“If you’re going to drink, please stay at home. Short and sweet. Nothing more you can say, because everybody else who was involved was just going about their and minding their own business,” Tazoi said.

Gurule was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of DUI.