Washington City • Off Telegraph St. in the Coral Canyon neighborhood of Washington City, two white “Ghost Bikes” adorned with colorful flowers memorialize the lives of Adam Bullard, 49, and Matthew Bullard, 48, who were killed by a driver who was allegedly impaired.
The Bullards, who were visiting from California, were in the Spring Tour of St. George bike race when 47-year-old Julie Ann Budge allegedly struck and killed them with her vehicle on April 9, according to the Washington City Police Department.
Ghost Bikes are roadside memorials that represent cyclists killed or severely injured by vehicles. Painted white, they are a similar concept to crosses commonly seen alongside on the sides of roadways.
Budge is being charged with multiple criminal charges, including two counts of automobile homicide, two counts each of driving under the influence and failure to remain at the scene of a fatal crash, court documents show. She also faces one count each of reckless driving and failure to stay in a travel lane.
Court documents show that Budge was convicted of a DUI in 2015.
A preliminary hearing for Budge is scheduled for May 9 at 9 a.m. at the St. George Courthouse. She is being held without bail in the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane.
At the intersection where they were struck, the mayors and council members of Washington City and St. George, along with members of the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance and the Washington County Police Department, gathered with about 50 members of the public to honor the brothers with the Ghost Bikes.
Washington City Mayor Kress Staheli said the memorial bikes serve as a reminder to drivers to share the road with cyclists, runners, walkers and scooter drivers. Staheli told The Salt Lake Tribune that the city is prioritizing recreation, like cycling, as it grows.
“These bikes represent two lost lives to impaired and reckless driving. These bikes stand as a reminder that life is fragile,” Staheli said. “They exist to tell us to slow down, to put down the phone, to stop texting and to never drive impaired with any type of drugs, medications, alcohol, or similar substance.”
“I hope these bikes will bring recognition to people not only on impaired drivers, but distracted drivers,” St. George Mayor Michele Randall said.
“We’re growing. Our roads are busy. And we need to share them with not only cars but pedestrians and bicyclists alike. And we hope that this never happens in our county again,” Randall said.
As a member of the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance, St. George Councilwoman Dannielle Larkin said that the alliance was created 10 years ago to make sure roads are built to the standards that are inclusive of cyclists.
“Cars are such a blessing in our lives. And they quickly become a curse when someone decides to use them irresponsibly. We’re better than this in Washington County, we can do better and we will do better,” she said.
The brothers were avid cyclists and inseparable, according to their families, which have since created a GoFundMe for Sharon Bullard and April Bullard, the widows of the late brothers.
Sara Porter rode her bike to the memorial in part to offer support to cyclists who ride through the streets of Washington City. She said that drivers need to give cyclists space and patience.
“I’m concerned about being run over by cars in the city,” Porter said. “Traffic’s gotten crazy and a lot of distracted drivers, out of town drivers, and I don’t always feel safe on the roads.”
The brothers’ funerals was held in California on Saturday.
