A southern Utah man has been charged in the Sunday deaths of his two young sons, who were in the back seat of his car when police say he slammed into a power pole at about 80 mph in a suspected DUI crash.
Eric Bowen Baubata, of Ivins, has been charged in 5th District Court with two counts of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in death, a second degree felony; driving under the influence, a class A misdemeanor; and reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor.
The crash happened at about 5:20 p.m. Sunday, as Babauta was headed south on Dixie Drive in St. George. That’s when witnesses said he drifted across a turn lane and two northbound lanes, jumped a curb and crashed into the large metal power pole.
According to St. George police, Baubata was driving in a 40 mph speed zone, and investigators suspect he was traveling about twice that fast. At the scene, there were “no skid marks or signs of braking.”
Babauta was trapped in the driver’s seat when officers arrived, and his sons, ages 4 and 9, were critically injured. Police said they were not properly secured in the back seat before the crash.
The boys were taken to a hospital, where they died a short time later.
According to a probable cause statement, Babauta showed “numerous signs of impairment,” including “slow and slurred speech” and eyes that were glassy and bloodshot. He was extricated from the car after “extensive effort” and taken to a hospital. There, police said, he underwent “major mood swings.”
“One minute he was sad and concerned,” police wrote, “and the next he would turn and curse at medical staff and attempt to assault them.”
According to the investigators, Baubata made “multiple comments about drug use” while he was being treated at the hospital, including that methamphetamine was his “drug of choice.” He said he did not remember hitting the power pole, or that his children were in his car.
A urine test came back “presumptively positive” for methamphetamine and amphetamine, according to the probable cause statement; blood test results were pending at the time the document was drafted.
Baubata remains hospitalized for treatment of his injuries.
