by West Valley City, Utah – A Utah man has been charged with multiple felony counts after allegedly leaving three men with disabilities inside a running vehicle for more than an hour, resulting in their deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities say the incident occurred on February 6 and has led to serious criminal charges against the driver, who was responsible for transporting the victims.
Three Men Found Dead Inside Vehicle
Police in West Valley City, located about 10 miles outside Salt Lake City, say the three victims — Colton Moser, 25, Mosa’ati Moa, 22, and Tim Jones, 39 — were discovered unresponsive inside a vehicle that had been running for an extended period of time. Emergency responders were called to the scene around 2 p.m. local time after receiving reports that the men were not breathing.
Investigators later determined that all three men died from carbon monoxide poisoning. According to police, the victims were residents of different assisted living facilities, and it remains unclear where they were being transported at the time of the incident. Details of the case were first reported by PEOPLE and confirmed through court and police records.
Driver Allegedly Left Men While Vehicle Was Running
Authorities identified the driver as Isaiah Pulu, 25, who was employed by a company providing transportation services for disabled adults. Police say Pulu stopped at his own home around lunchtime and went inside, leaving the three men alone in the running vehicle.
“The driver had stopped at his residence and went inside, leaving the three men inside the running vehicle,” police said in a statement. “He reported returning one to two hours later and finding all three men deceased.”
Court documents obtained by local media outlets state that Pulu allegedly ate lunch and watched television while the men remained in the van for several hours.
Conflicting Statements About Garage and Vehicle
According to investigators, Pulu told officers that when he left the vehicle, the garage door was open. When he returned, he claimed the garage door was closed and the vehicle was no longer running and would not restart.
Police have not confirmed how or when the garage door was closed or why the vehicle stopped running. Investigators continue to examine whether environmental conditions inside the garage accelerated the carbon monoxide exposure.
Two of the three men were reported to be non-verbal, and Pulu told officers that one of the passengers had been “disruptive” before the stop, according to reports from KSL News Radio.
Criminal Charges Filed, No Bail Set
Pulu was arrested several hours after being interviewed by police and has since been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. He faces:
- Three counts of manslaughter, a second-degree felony
- Three counts of aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult, charged as criminal negligence misdemeanors
Authorities confirmed that Pulu is currently being held without bail as the case proceeds.
State Agency Launches Investigation Into Transport Company
Following the incident, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services announced that its Division of Licensing and Background Checks issued a Notice of Emergency Agency Action against Safe and Sounds Services, LLC, the company employing Pulu.
The order prohibits the company from serving new clients under its day treatment license for 30 days while a full investigation is conducted.
“At the core of our work is a commitment to the health and safety of people being served,” the agency said. “When safety is compromised and lives are lost, we feel it deeply.”
Investigation Ongoing
Police say the investigation remains active as authorities continue reviewing surveillance footage, vehicle data, and company policies. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether additional charges could be filed.
The case has raised renewed concerns about oversight, training, and accountability in services responsible for transporting vulnerable adults.
