Man charged with manslaughter, automobile homicide for fatal Murray crash

MURRAY, Utah (ABC4) — A Murray man is facing charges after police say he caused a deadly crash at an intersection just over a year ago. Joshua W. Griffin, 47, has been charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony; automobile homicide, a second-degree felony; negligently operating a vehicle resulting in serious injury, a third-degree felony; three counts of negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, a Class A misdemeanor; as well as four counts of reckless endangerment and one count each of property damage, reckless driving, and speeding. The charges stem from a fatal crash that occurred just over one year ago. On April 15, 2025, four vehicles were involved in a crash just before 11 a.m. that morning near 700 West and Winchester Street. Several people were seriously injured in the crash, and one person ultimately died after being transported to the hospital. Murray City Police identified the victim as 74-year-old Ila J. Luke, a Murray resident. Her husband was one of those injured in the crash that morning, though he survived. According to court documents, witnesses reported seeing a Toyota Tacoma speeding down Winchester Street and striking a gold Hyundai that was stopped at the red light. The impact pushed the vehicle into the intersection, causing it to strike a blue Hyundai that was waiting to turn east onto Winchester. Witnesses told police that the Toyota continued through the intersection, striking a Jeep that was also waiting to turn north onto 700 West. After crashing into the jeep, the Toyota Tacoma continued forward, ultimately stopping after driving through a fence at the southwest corner of the intersection. The driver of the first vehicle that was hit, the gold Hyundai, told police that he couldn't remember what happened, but his wife was transported to the hospital in critical condition. First responders told police that she had been pronounced deceased upon arrival. Later, the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner would confirm that Ila Luke died due to blunt force injuries caused by the crash. Her husband was transported to the hospital with several fractures, including to his clavicle and ribs. Documents say the driver and passenger of the blue Hyundai suffered minor injuries that were treated at the hospital, and the Jeep driver had injuries to his upper body. At the scene of the crash, Murray City Police officers spoke with the driver of the Toyota Tacoma, who allegedly started the crash. He told police that he did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system and had taken his epilepsy medication that morning. Griffin reportedly suffered a traumatic brain injury more than a decade prior that caused epileptic seizures. While being questioned about the crash, Griffin claimed he didn't think he had a seizure, but all he could recall was coming up to the intersection and then crashing into a fence. He consented to having his blood drawn, which was completed three hours after the crash. Documents say the toxicology report showed that Griffin had 7.3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of THC, 2.2 ng/mL of 11-Hydroxy THC, and more than 50 ng/mL of THC-COOH (metabolized THC). During the Murray City Police Department's follow-up investigation, officers obtained Griffin's driver's license records, noting that he denied having any neurologic, sleeping, or epileptic disorders on his applications. An officer contacted the Driver's License Division (DLD) and learned that no healthcare provider had reported they were treating Griffin for epilepsy, which would be required by law. From the DLD, officers learned that Griffin was involved in a crash in California three years prior. They requested and obtained the accident report from the Healdsburg Police Department. The report stated that Griffin was speeding and crashed into a pole, losing control and then hitting a bridge. Bodycam video showed Griffin being extracted and transported to the hospital, and a witness told police that a family member of Griffin said he suffered a seizure, leading to the crash. Next, the Murray City Police Department obtained a warrant for Griffin's medical records. Documents say that Griffin reported using marijuana daily, had several seizures in the months before the crash, and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Medical records showed that Griffin mentioned the California crash, but did not believe it happened due to a seizure. Investigators performed a speed analysis on the vehicle involved in the crash and found that Griffin was driving 56 mph in a 30 mph zone when he crashed into the gold Hyundai. Griffin is not in custody, but a summons is being issued for him to appear at any upcoming court hearings.