Woman exits moving vehicle on I-15; husband charged with felony assault

2014 file photo for illustrative purposes only of UHP and Washington County Sheriff's patrol vehicles in Washington County, Utah, Oct. 18, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News

BROWSE – Utah Highway Patrol arrested a man for driving under the influence and aggravated assault Saturday evening after he and his wife had an altercation while traveling on Interstate 15, she exited their moving vehicle and he crashed their car down an embankment.

Cody David Cummings, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Oct. 18, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
Cody David Cummings, of St. George, Utah, booking photo posted Oct. 18, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Just before 6 p.m., Cody Cummings, of St. George, and his wife were traveling northbound on I-15 in a Mitsubishi Eclipse on their way to Salt Lake City when they got into an altercation and left the freeway via the Browse Exit, UHP Trooper Mike Murphy said.

According to statements UHP obtained through interviews with Cummings and his wife, the two entered the Browse off-ramp and Cummings’ wife allegedly began attempting to jump out of the car while Cummings tried to keep her from jumping out, Murphy said. At some point, the woman exited the car, but UHP had not determined at the scene whether Cummings pushed her out of the vehicle or if she jumped.

At some point after the woman exited the vehicle, the car, driven by Cummings, collided with the guardrail on the right side of the road just before the overpass and then swerved across both lanes and careened down an embankment, coming to a rest among some Cedar trees.

“I don’t know if he flipped around or bounced off the guardrail,” Murphy said.

Witnesses told troopers they called 911 after they saw Cummings’ wife walking between the frontage road and I-15. UHP, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Leeds Ambulance responded to the scene.

Both Cummings and his wife were found outside of the vehicle. Each suffered minor injuries; Cummings had a small abrasion on his temple but stated that he was all right, Murphy said.

A Mitsubishi Eclipse sits in the embankment after careening off the Browse Exit, Browse, Utah, Oct. 15, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News
A Mitsubishi Eclipse sits in the embankment after careening off the Browse Exit, Browse, Utah, Oct. 15, 2014 | Photo by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News

“He admitted to everything,” Murphy said. “Alcohol is a possibility.”

The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Cummings was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility on one charge of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; one charge of driving under the influence, a class B misdemeanor; and one charge of improper lane travel, a class C misdemeanor.

According to Utah Criminal Code, Cummings’ aggravated assault charge stems from either committing an assault with a dangerous weapon or with “other means of force likely to produce death or bodily injury.” At the time of this publication, UHP Trooper Lawrence Hopper, acting as public information officer for the Utah Highway Patrol, said he did not know what factors led to the aggravated charge or whether the charge related to allegations that Cummings had pushed his wife from their vehicle.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

Assistant Editor Cami Cox Jim contributed to this report.

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20 Comments

  • Koolaid October 18, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    What did his property do to make him so mad at her?

    • Burton October 19, 2014 at 8:06 pm

      Oh man your funny! Not really though.

  • Chuck Brown October 18, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    Some advice to you guys, If you buy your girl flowers or chocolates every once in awhile that keeps em happy….

  • Bender October 19, 2014 at 2:34 am

    “coming to a rest among some Cedar trees.”
    .
    Juniper trees

  • Break the Silence October 19, 2014 at 6:01 am

    The message for everyone who is in this situation:

    Leave. If this is the first or the tenth or the hundredth time — it will happen again. It doesn’t matter if you believe him when he says it’s your fault or he’ll do better. I know you think you need him, you’re scared about money, and you’re convinced you can handle it. It will never stop and this is hurting you in ways you can’t see. This isn’t about love. Call the DOVE Center today. Let people help you.

    • laytonian October 19, 2014 at 8:28 am

      Exactly, “Break”

      What these guys are when drunk, is what they really are.

      • Koolaid October 19, 2014 at 1:20 pm

        I get the impressions your Dixie Dudes are prone to aggressiveness and violence toward their women (property). Betcha the area has a high rate of domestic violence toward women.

    • Killjoy October 19, 2014 at 9:45 am

      Never ever ever believe him when he says “It’s your fault”. It is not your fault. He is the one in the wrong if he ever abuses you in any way. He is in control of his feelings and choices.

  • Dan Lester October 19, 2014 at 7:49 am

    Unless you’re a picky biologist, they’re cedar trees. Cedar/Juniper around here is like HurriCANE or HurriCUN. Do you also have a campaign to change the city north of SG to be Juniper City?

    • Bender October 19, 2014 at 9:58 am

      Juniper trees.

      • Burton October 19, 2014 at 8:12 pm

        Well there are “Cedar” trees near “cedar city”. So there are polygamists near St. GEORGE, I wonder if we should rename it “polygamist city”? Or maybe “pine tree city”? There are pine trees in pine valley. Just saying. Any other suggestions?

      • Burton October 19, 2014 at 8:14 pm

        I wonder why the didn’t name it “bristlecone city”?

  • Zonkerb October 19, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    Another fine Utah family at it’s best

  • Sugar free October 19, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    Next time stop let her out then go to salt lake. Another dead beat will pick her up they can get busy. That’s how ya make Koolaid.

  • Koolaid October 19, 2014 at 7:45 pm

    In 2001, the rate of domestic violence in Utah was a full 23% higher than the national average. The Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice says that one in eight Utah women report being raped. The Commission also reports that one in three Utah women will experience sexual violence during their lifetime. Among Utah women who are raped, only 13% are attacked by a stranger. By comparison: 31% are raped by a family member. 21% are raped by a romantic partner. 35% are raped by someone they know (friends, coworkers, neighbors).
    That means that at least one fifth of Utah rapes are considered IPV — domestic violence. – See more at: http://www.ogden-attorney.com/domestic-violence-in-utah-is-growing-out-of-control/#sthash.nbzW8L6A.dpuf- http://www.ogden-attorney.com/domestic-violence-in-utah-is-growing-out-of-control/

  • Tinker Toys October 19, 2014 at 11:43 pm

    Figures UHP couldn’t determine if she was pushed or jumped.

    • FYI October 20, 2014 at 8:03 am

      Look at all these jacks wads with no law enforcement experience.

      Commenting on how a situation should be handled

      • Tinker Toys October 20, 2014 at 6:41 pm

        I wouldn’t qualify a highway patrolman as a police officer, more like AAA with a badge.

  • What what what October 20, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    Koolaid is correct. Wake up Utah stop letting people move here and stop letting in the illegals. See what happens. Just for your info Koolaid I’d a move in.

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