Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TOOELE — Four years ago, Dawn Howsden's two daughters were injured in car accident caused by a drunk driver.
The incident gave Howsden's girls a new prescriptive on life: that it shouldn't be taken for granted, every day matters, and you can't take back bad decisions.
Now the Howsdens wish the man who caused the horrific accident would learn the same lesson.
"I just know my girls have made choices to better their lives, and I wish he'd do the same," Howsden said.
Stephen Randall Shaw, 55, was charged in March with felony DUI, operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock system, being an alcohol restricted driver, having an open container in a vehicle and failure to stop.
For Shaw, it's the second time in four years he's been charged with felony DUI.
Shaw injures sisters in 2007 DUI accident
In 2007, Shaw was arrested, convicted and sentenced for driving drunk and hitting a group of girls driving home from a soccer game. Emergency crews had to cut the top off the vehicle to get the victims out.
Five girls were in the car and suffered varying degrees of injury. Two of those girls were Lauren and Shannon Howsden. Lauren was 14 at the time, and Shannon was 13.
Lauren could not walk for four months due a compound femur fracture that required multiple surgeries. Although she has worked her way back to participating in sports again, the 19-year-old still feels pain in her leg "all the time."
"She can tell the weather better than the weatherman," her mother joked.
Shannon suffered collarbone, neck and back injuries. Recently, she was named valedictorian of Tooele High School's graduating class.
"They've kind of used this experience as an eye-opening experience," Dawn Howsden said. "Every choice they make can have serious consequences. It's really changed their lives."
Howsden said for a long time after the accident she was angry with Shaw. But she says she has learned to forgive him and no longer spends time worrying about him. Nevertheless, she says the latest incident cannot go ignored.
"I'm not happy this has happened or he has made these choices and not changed his life. I think they should prosecute him to fullest extent of the law."
Shaw's latest arrest
On March 5, Shaw was pulled over near Stansbury Park for running a stop sign. The deputy immediately detected a "strong odor of alcohol," according to a police report. When the deputy asked Shaw if he had been drinking, he said "No," the report stated.
Shaw also admitted he was not driving a vehicle with an ignition interlock device as required because of his previous conviction.
(I want to) make sure some type of punishment is given. Obviously the punishment before didn't work.
–Becky Deleeuw, victim in 2007 accident
#deleeuw_quote
The deputy found an open bottle of alcohol in Shaw's jacket. He asked Shaw to perform several field sobriety tests, which Shaw failed. He was not able to walk nine steps and turn as instructed, he "fell over" while attempting to stand on one leg and his blood-alcohol content measured at a .109. The legal limit in Utah is .08. Later, at the Tooele County Detention center, a second test showed Shaw's blood-alcohol level at .103, according to court records.
In 2007, Shaw was sentenced to up to five years in prison with the court recommending he serve his full time.
Instead, Shaw served a little over a year before being paroled in 2008. He completed his parole in August 2010.
For his current case, Shaw was being held in the Davis County Jail because of health issues that needed to be addressed. Bail is set at $25,000 cash only.
Becky Deleeuw was also in the car that Shaw hit in 2007. She was 17 at the time. Like the Howsdens, she said she is frustrated with Shaw's latest arrest. Although she too has moved on with her life and doesn't describe herself as being "angry or outraged," she will be following his latest court case closely.
"(I want to) make sure some type of punishment is given. Obviously the punishment before didn't work," she said.
During a court hearing in March, Shaw's son requested jail be made bondable, but prosecutors objected due to Shaw's criminal history, according to court records. A judge ordered Shaw's bail remain unchanged.
His next court appearance has been scheduled for Tuesday.
-----
Story written by Pat Reavy with contributions from Jed Boal.
