Driver arrested in crash that killed his passenger

A man authorities say drove into an overpass while driving drunk, killing his passenger, has been arrested for investigation of automobile homicide.

Dennis J. Garcia, 32, was driving near 8400 West and 5500 South about 1 a.m. Wednesday when his vehicle went off the road. The driver's side of the car smashed into a railroad overpass, said West Valley police Capt. Tom McLachlan.

Investigators believe the impact threw the passenger, Thomas Shane Buckley, 24, into the back seat, McLachlan said.

When officers arrived Garcia was trying to pull the passenger out of the back.

"He was not cooperative with police or medical at the scene," McLachlan said. "He denied being the driver."

Buckley was flown to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Garcia was also taken to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries, then booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of automobile homicide and DUI.

Investigators determined Garcia was the driver because his injuries corresponded to marks found inside the vehicle on the driver's side, McLachlan said.