NAPLES, Uintah County — A Vernal man accused of causing a fatal crash two years ago is now facing charges.
Wrexten Herbert Sharp, 19, was charged Friday in 8th District Court with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony.
On July 14, 2024, Sharp was driving a Mazda 3 on state Route 40 and turned left on 2200 East "without yielding to an oncoming westbound motorcycle," according to charging documents.
The motorcycle rider, who was traveling an estimated 55 mph, hit the front of Sharp's car and was thrown from his bike, the charges state. The rider, 54-year-old Jason Schultz, was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.
"Jason was tragically killed just a few short minutes from home," according to a fundraiser established shortly after the crash. "It was Jason's dream, since he was 15 years old, to ride a motorcycle cross-country. Jason was traveling from the East Coast back to Utah."
Investigators determined Sharp was traveling an estimated 17 mph to 37 mph and was "lightly braking" while making the left turn, according to the charges.
When questioned, police say Sharp's "eyes appeared red and cloudy. When asked about using marijuana, the defendant admitted to using the substance earlier that same day," the charges state.
Court documents do not say why it took nearly two years to file charges.
