A Tooele dump truck driver who caused a collision that killed a longtime UPS delivery truck driver last month has been charged with automobile homicide.

Steven Douglas Jakeman, 43, made his first appearance in 3rd District Court Tuesday. He faces charges of automobile homicide with negligence/DUI — a third-degree felony — as well as driving with an invalid driver’s license and failing to yield right-of-way — both misdemeanors — as a result of his actions in the Dec. 1, 2008, crash at the intersection of SR-138 and SR-36 in Stansbury Park.

The crash claimed the life of Alan Christofferson, 54, of West Jordan. Christofferson was traveling south at 60 mph on SR-36 in a UPS delivery truck that morning when the Peterbilt dump truck Jakeman was driving northbound pulled out in front of him while attempting to turn west onto SR-138, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

The dump truck, owned by Western Excavation in Tooele, was struck on the right front tire by the UPS truck, causing both vehicles to spin to the west side of the road. Troopers at the scene said the impact left both vehicles severely mangled and actually split the dump truck in half.

Christofferson was found pinned inside the UPS truck and had to be extracted. He was pronounced dead on scene. Jakeman was ejected from his vehicle. He suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to University Hospital.

Subsequent blood work completed on Jakeman revealed that his blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.19 percent — more than double the legal limit, according to Tooele County Attorney Doug Hogan.

Judge Stephen Henriod released Jakeman from custody on his own recognizance Tuesday, however, due to questions over whether Jakeman was really intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Hogan said paramedics, doctors and co-workers who saw Jakeman just before or just after the accident said they had no reason to believe he was under the influence given the time of day the accident occurred, and the short amount of time that had passed since Jakeman had had direct contact with a manager at work and the time the accident occurred. Medical personnel also made statements that they did not smell alcohol on Jakeman’s breath after the accident.

Jakeman has no previous history of driving under the influence, according to court documents.

“[Jakeman] was found lying in a puddle of diesel fuel,” Hogan said, adding that his office is looking into whether the fluid could have had an impact on Jakeman’s blood test.

Steven Hamilton, owner of Western Excavation, said that Jakeman’s driver’s license was active at the time of the crash but that he was carrying an inactive temporary license. Hamilton added he believes it would be almost physically impossible for Jakeman to have consumed the alcohol recorded by the blood tests.

“[Jakeman] is not a consumer of alcohol or drugs,” Hamilton said. “It would have taken him 8.5 drinks to get to that blood alcohol level. Five minutes before the accident I talked to him. I helped him load his truck that morning. I don’t know what happened at the crime lab, but something is wrong.”

Jakeman will make his next appearance in court on Jan. 20.

Jamie Belnap: jamieb@tooeletranscript.com