A Tooele man accused of speeding, drinking, and riding without a valid license when he crashed his motorcycle in May—killing his girlfriend who was riding with him—has now been charged with murder. Prosecutors say the deadly collision was the result of extreme recklessness, combining excessive speed, intoxication, and repeated traffic violations.
Justin Kimball Strickland, 31, was charged Wednesday in 4th District Court with murder, a first-degree felony. Additional charges include DUI with prior convictions, reckless driving, alcohol-restricted driving, and two traffic infractions for speeding and improper passing.
Crash Details Reveal High Speeds and Dangerous Maneuvers
The crash occurred on May 3 along Redwood Road in Lehi. Investigators say Strickland was riding with his girlfriend—identified by the initials K.L.—on the back of his motorcycle. Neither was wearing a helmet.
According to charging documents, traffic ahead had slowed due to a malfunctioning traffic light. Strickland failed to brake in time, striking the rear of another vehicle at high speed. The impact threw both riders from the motorcycle.
K.L. suffered catastrophic head injuries and died two days later at a hospital. Strickland sustained a severe leg injury requiring amputation.
Investigators determined Strickland had been riding over 78 mph in a 50 mph zone just moments before the crash. Witnesses reported seeing the motorcycle weaving between lanes, cutting between cars, failing to signal, and driving aggressively in the minutes leading up to the collision.
Evidence of Alcohol Use Before the Crash
Although Strickland initially told police he had not been drinking, investigators say surveillance footage and bar receipts from a sports bar contradict his claim. According to prosecutors:
- Strickland and his girlfriend were served both beer and liquor
- Their server recalled Strickland consuming “a stein, a pint, and a shot of whiskey”
- His bar tab was closed at 3:26 p.m.
- The fatal crash occurred at 3:38 p.m., just 12 minutes later
Hospital testing showed Strickland’s blood-alcohol concentration was 0.077% two hours after the crash—well above Utah’s legal limit of 0.05%.
Prior DUI History and Invalid License
Further investigation revealed Strickland was driving on a suspended license and did not have the required motorcycle endorsement. Court records show he has two prior alcohol-related driving convictions from 2021.
Given the combination of excessive speed, alleged intoxication, a suspended license, and the resulting death, prosecutors escalated the charges to murder—arguing that Strickland’s behavior demonstrated extreme indifference to human life.
The case will move forward to a preliminary hearing as prosecutors seek accountability for what they describe as a preventable and deadly sequence of choices.
