TOOELE, Utah — An 18-year-old driver has been charged with automobile homicide following a deadly crash in Tooele County that killed his 16-year-old passenger. The incident occurred early Sunday morning when Jaxon Douglas David Wood was driving a white truck that left the roadway and crashed, resulting in the death of his passenger, Conner Russell.
According to officials, Wood, who was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, is now facing several serious charges. In addition to automobile homicide, he is charged with reckless endangerment, possession and consumption by a minor, and possession of a controlled substance.
Tooele County Sheriff’s Deputy Taubman was the first officer to arrive at the scene of the crash. Upon assessing the situation, Deputy Taubman began performing CPR on Russell, who was severely injured. A second officer later arrived and found Wood standing near Deputy Taubman. The responding officer reportedly detected a strong smell of alcohol on Wood and performed a blood alcohol test. The results showed that Wood’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.18%, more than three times the legal limit in Utah.
Investigators at the scene found several open alcohol containers, a THC vape, and tobacco products inside the truck, further indicating that Wood had been under the influence at the time of the crash. Wood reportedly admitted to driving at 85 mph in an area where the speed limit was 65 mph. According to authorities, both Wood and Russell were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, which resulted in both teens being thrown from the vehicle upon impact.
Conner Russell, a Riverton High School football player, was remembered fondly by friends and family. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by loved ones to help his grieving mother with funeral expenses.
The tragic incident has raised concerns about the dangers of impaired driving, particularly among young people. Local authorities are urging drivers to make safer choices, especially when alcohol or drugs are involved, to prevent further loss of life on Utah’s roads.
Jaxon Wood’s case is expected to move through the court system in the coming weeks, as investigators continue to piece together the details of the crash. Meanwhile, the community remains in mourning over the untimely death of Conner Russell, who was just beginning his life.