Man charged with vehicular manslaughter after driver died in 2023 crash 

TETONIA — A 34-year-old man charged for allegedly sidesplitting an Idaho Falls man aft allegedly driving recklessly connected snow-covered roads and causing a head-on crash.  

Isaul Sanchez, of St. Anthony, has been charged pinch felony vehicular manslaughter. Brian Wright, 52, was killed. 

The clang happened connected Jan. 27, 2023 connected Idaho Highway 33 astir 7 a.m. astatine milepost 131 successful Teton County.

RELATED | Man killed, 3 rushed to infirmary pursuing clang connected Highway 33

RELATED | Man killed successful clang remembered arsenic ‘happy, genuine ray who will beryllium missed’

A snowplow was nan lead conveyance successful a statement of cars, walking eastbound, according to Idaho State Police. Sanchez was reportedly driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup and attempted to walk nan statement of cars. Wright was driving a 2017 Ford commercialized container motortruck walking westbound.

As nan Chevrolet was successful nan oncoming lane of travel, it deed nan Ford head-on. The Chevrolet past spun, and deed a 2010 Toyota Yaris, driven by a 56-year-old man from Teton, Idaho State Police said.

All drivers of nan vehicles were wearing seatbelts. Wright died astatine nan scene. 

Court documents

According to an affidavit of probable origin revenge by Idaho State Police, a driver progressive successful nan clang told a trooper he was successful a statement of cars pursuing a snowplow. He saw nan Chevrolet velocity past him attempting to walk nan statement of cars. 

He said he saw nan conveyance collide head-on pinch nan Ford and past rotation and deed him connected nan beforehand driver-side fender, causing him to spell disconnected nan road, tribunal documents said. 

Sanchez and his 2 big passengers were transported by crushed ambulance to Teton Valley Hospital successful Driggs. A trooper went location and took a humor tie from Sanchez. 

In April 2023, nan humor results came backmost from nan Idaho State Police Lab for Sanchez and nary forbidden substances were coming astatine nan clip of nan crash. 

In October 2023, a trooper reviewed nan completed clang reconstruction study and agreed pinch nan findings.

The findings included that astatine nan clip of nan crash, it was acheronian outside, and nan roadworthy was covered pinch snow. Sanchez began to walk aggregate vehicles successful severely reduced visibility owed to snowfall conditions. He was “operating nan conveyance successful a reckless manner” pinch his velocity and passing, putting himself, his passengers, and different drivers astatine risk. 

“Sanchez’s reckless driving resulted successful a head-on collision pinch Wright,” documents said.

The lawsuit was past handed complete to nan Teton County Prosecutor’s Office for review. 

The criminal complaint was revenge successful May. An apprehension warrant was issued and rule enforcement was having problem uncovering Sanchez, according to Teton County Prosecutor Bailey Smith. She said Sanchez ended up uncovering retired astir nan lawsuit and hired counsel. The warrant was quashed and he was summoned to court. 

EastIdahoNews.com asked Smith why it took truthful agelong to record nan lawsuit aft ISP handed it complete months ago.

Smith said nan mostly of nan hold was owed to her agency being overwhelmed pinch felony cases, and they could not get to it astatine nan time.

“We couldn’t get to it for that galore months, which of course, saddens me. I had to explicate to nan victims and it’s really reliable erstwhile you person a family that has a deceased family member,” she said.

Smith added that she is nan only personification successful her agency handling felony cases.

Sanchez appeared successful tribunal connected Wednesday and is expected to person a preliminary proceeding connected Aug. 7 astatine 1:30 p.m. successful nan Teton County courthouse. 

Though Sanchez has been charged pinch this crime, it does not needfully mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed guiltless until they are proven guilty.