This is happening here locally. As someone who has been hit by a drunk driver, this really gets me fired up.
A 42-year-old Springville man who was out of prison after serving six years for killing a woman while driving intoxicated was arrested last week in Spanish Fork on suspicion of drunk driving.
Robert J. Vandyke was arrested Sept. 25 about 8 p.m., according to police Lt. Steve Adams.
Vandyke was reported by a citizen who had smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed impaired speech at a ballpark at 200 West Volunteer Drive (750 South), Adams said.
An officer dispatched to the area observed impaired driving before stopping Vandyke several blocks from the ballpark, said Adams, who added that Vandyke refused to perform field sobriety or Breathalyzer tests.
Because Vandyke has had three prior alcohol-related convictions during the past 10 years, Utah County prosecutors are considering filing the case as a felony, Adams said.
Just three months ago, Vandyke's parole in connection with a fatal crash in 2000 was terminated early because he was doing well and had undergone a successful substance-abuse evaluation, according to parole and corrections authorities.
Vandyke had been sentenced to prison for up to 20 years after pleading guilty to second-degree felony automobile homicide and third-degree felony driving under the influence with serious injury.
The convictions stemmed from a Jan. 28, 2000, crash in which Vandyke's pickup truck hit another vehicle at 4800 S. 8400 West in West Valley City.
Michelle Bradley, 36, was killed, and her daughter, 12-year-old Amber, lost an eye. The family's dog was also killed.
The girl's aunt. Elizabeth Dresden, 30, who was nine months pregnant, suffered broken bones.
At the time, Vandyke - whose license had been suspended because of a prior DUI conviction - had a blood-alcohol content 4- times higher than Utah's legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Two weeks prior to the fatal crash, Vandyke was arrested for DUI in Utah County and charged with a third-degree felony. According to 4th District Court records, Vandyke was also arrested for DUI in American Fork in 1997 and in Provo in March 1999, for which he was sentenced to one day in jail, a $500 fine and community service.
Jim Hatch, spokesman for the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, said Vandyke served one year in jail and five years in prison before he was paroled in January 2006.
A 42-year-old Springville man who was out of prison after serving six years for killing a woman while driving intoxicated was arrested last week in Spanish Fork on suspicion of drunk driving.
Robert J. Vandyke was arrested Sept. 25 about 8 p.m., according to police Lt. Steve Adams.
Vandyke was reported by a citizen who had smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed impaired speech at a ballpark at 200 West Volunteer Drive (750 South), Adams said.
An officer dispatched to the area observed impaired driving before stopping Vandyke several blocks from the ballpark, said Adams, who added that Vandyke refused to perform field sobriety or Breathalyzer tests.
Because Vandyke has had three prior alcohol-related convictions during the past 10 years, Utah County prosecutors are considering filing the case as a felony, Adams said.
Just three months ago, Vandyke's parole in connection with a fatal crash in 2000 was terminated early because he was doing well and had undergone a successful substance-abuse evaluation, according to parole and corrections authorities.
Vandyke had been sentenced to prison for up to 20 years after pleading guilty to second-degree felony automobile homicide and third-degree felony driving under the influence with serious injury.
The convictions stemmed from a Jan. 28, 2000, crash in which Vandyke's pickup truck hit another vehicle at 4800 S. 8400 West in West Valley City.
Michelle Bradley, 36, was killed, and her daughter, 12-year-old Amber, lost an eye. The family's dog was also killed.
The girl's aunt. Elizabeth Dresden, 30, who was nine months pregnant, suffered broken bones.
At the time, Vandyke - whose license had been suspended because of a prior DUI conviction - had a blood-alcohol content 4- times higher than Utah's legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Two weeks prior to the fatal crash, Vandyke was arrested for DUI in Utah County and charged with a third-degree felony. According to 4th District Court records, Vandyke was also arrested for DUI in American Fork in 1997 and in Provo in March 1999, for which he was sentenced to one day in jail, a $500 fine and community service.
Jim Hatch, spokesman for the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole, said Vandyke served one year in jail and five years in prison before he was paroled in January 2006.
