ST. GEORGE, Utah — A pair of children in the backseat of a car died after being critically injured in a St. George car crash Sunday evening.
Police said the driver was the children's 36-year-old father, Eric Bowen Babauta. Impairment and speed appear to be "major contributing factors" in the crash, officials report.
On November 13, two weeks after the deadly crash happened, Babauta was released from the hospital on a no-bail warrant and booked into jail.
The children were both boys, ages 4 and 9 years old. Their identities were not disclosed.
The crash happened at 5:20 p.m. in the area of 575 N. Dixie Drive.
St. George Police report a black passenger car was traveling southbound when it crossed into oncoming northbound lanes and hit a metal power pole.
In the backseat of the vehicle were the two young children who were critically injured in the crash. Police said they were not properly restrained in child car seats.
Witnesses recognized the severity of the children's injuries and broke the windows to pull them from the vehicle, police report.
The children were not breathing when they were removed from the car. Despite life-saving efforts, both children died.
"We mourn the loss of these two young children in such a tragic accident and we offer our condolences to the family, first responders, witnesses and hospital staff," police said in a release. "Those who assisted made every effort to provide life-saving measures to both young boys, and we appreciate those efforts."
Additionally, Babauta had to be extricated from the vehicle and was taken to the hospital with significant injuries. Police report that he remains in critical condition in the hospital.
He was later charged with two felony counts of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in death, two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, as well as reckless driving and violation of a protective order. Police said they later learned that he was prohibited from any contact with the boys' mother due to a domestic violence-related restraining order. However, they said it appeared he went to her home to pick up the boys that day.
Police said they administered a urine test with his consent, which came back positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine.
During the investigation, police said they were looking for a driver in a white Ford pickup truck that was in front of Dino Dash on Dixie Drive when the crash happened. It's unclear what their relationship to the crash is, if any.
Traffic in the area was shut down for a period of time Sunday night while officials investigated and cleaned up the crash.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call police at 435-627-4300.
