Van driver arrested in fatal Cedar City crash

CEDAR CITY — The driver of a van carrying Japanese tourists that crashed last month in Iron County, killing three and injuring 12, is now facing felony charges in connection with the crash.

Yasushi Mikuni, 26, was charged in 5th District Court on Wednesday with 10 counts of operating a vehicle negligently, causing injury or death, a third-degree felony, as well as charges of driving with a measurable controlled substance in the body, a class B misdemeanor, and failure to stay in one lane and failure to keep log book entries current, both Class C misdemeanors.

Both negligent homicide and vehicular homicide charges were considered before it was determined that the negligent operation charges best fit the crime, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Ryan Bauer said. He said that while troopers now know Mikuni was smoking marijuana throughout the weekend leading up to the crash, a drug evaluation expert determined that Mikuni was not under the influence when the crash occurred.

"The main reason is he was fatigued," Bauer said. "We do not believe the marijuana actually caused his drowsiness. He shouldn't have been using marijuana during the weekend … all these building blocks came together and he's sleepy on the road and drove off the road … I think he has a lot of remorse."

Mikuni was booked into the Iron County Jail Tuesday after he met with troopers voluntarily. Bauer said Mikuni called previously and set up a meeting to return, with his family, to the crash site, where he left flowers and offered a prayer.

"He is feeling terrible about this, but I think he also realizes there were some mistakes made," Bauer said. "I think he has a lot of remorse … he acknowledges he caused the accident but feels he deserves some privacy."

Mikuni was the driver of the van that crashed and rolled just north of Cedar City on Aug. 9. Killed were a married couple from Shinjuku, Junji Hoshino, 38, and Junko Hoshino, 40; and Hiroki Hayase, 20, of Osaka. Hayase's parents and 14-year-old sister were among the 11 other passengers injured.

Mikuni, also Japanese, was living in Las Vegas on a work and education visa. He suffered minor injuries.

The group of 14 tourists had left Las Vegas for a four-day tour of Utah's national parks and the Grand Canyon. The van veered off I-15 into the grassy median and traveled more than 400 feet, flipping one and a half times and landing on its wheels.