Julie Ann Budge, 47, was booked into the Washington County Jail on two felony counts of automobile homicide, two felony counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, two felony counts of failure to remain at the scene of an accident, and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving.
Police say Budge hit two men on bicycles on Telegraph Street in Washington City, about eight miles northeast of St. George. The men from California, who were participating in the"Spring Tour of St. George" timed bike ride, died from their injuries. Their names have not been released. When officers responded to the scene, Budge reportedly told them she had"various medical issues" and had began uncontrollably defecating herself without warning. She said this caused her to swerve and hit the two cyclists, who she said she didn't see. She also said they were stopped, although police said they were riding westbound in the bike lane.
Police conducted field sobriety tests, all of which they said Budge failed. She told them she had been taking fentanyl through an IV drip since being admitted to the hospital the day before.Budge is being held in jail without bail. Police wrote in the probable cause affidavit that she was convicted of DUI in 2015.