Intoxicated driver accused of hitting, killing woman changing flat tire

MILLCREEK — A woman changing a flat tire on the shoulder of I-80 was hit and killed by a suspected intoxicated driver late Friday.

Peter Joseph Hoffelmeyer, 47, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of automobile homicide, DUI and failing to stay in a lane.

On Friday, just before midnight, on westbound I-80 in Parleys Canyon, Hoffelmeyer's vehicle "left its lane and crashed into a disabled vehicle on the right shoulder. The disabled vehicle had a flat rear driver-side tire," according to a police booking affidavit. "An occupant of the disabled vehicle was outside attempting to change the tire. Due to the crash, the occupant outside of the disabled vehicle died on scene."

Taylor Breanne Giles, 36, of Sandy, was killed. The Utah Highway Patrol says Giles was changing a tire on her Subaru Forester on the right shoulder when a Nissan Altima hit her.

Another driver who stopped to help told UHP troopers that Hoffelmeyer "appeared to be under the influence," the affidavit states.

A trooper questioned Hoffelmeyer at the hospital and noted "he had red, glossy, bloodshot eyes and relaxed-sunken facial features. The subject stated he had four mixed drinks prior to driving, and that his last drink was an hour prior to driving," according to the affidavit.

A breath test measured Hoffelmeyer's blood-alcohol level at 0.14%, or nearly three times the legal limit.

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