Wednesday, April 28, 2004
The victim was returning from a Christmastime visit to her husband's grave.
By ROGER G. SMITH
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Canfield man will spend four years in prison for causing a fatal accident in 2002.
Shawn D. Mulhall, 29, of Timberbrook Drive agreed to a deal Tuesday, pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault.
As part of the plea, Judge James Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced Mulhall to four years in prison. Mulhall received a mandatory two years for the homicide and two years for the assault.
The sentence also suspends Mulhall's driver's license for life.
What happened
Mulhall was traveling east on McGuffey Road on the city's East Side when he ran a stop sign at state Route 616 about 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2002.
He crashed his 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck into the side of a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, killing Lois M. Olson, 70, of Hubbard, the front-seat passenger.
The Pontiac, driven by Linda L. Wheeler of Girard, was southbound on state Route 616 when it was hit.
The two were returning from a Christmastime visit to the grave of Olson's husband, said Assistant Prosecutor Jay Macejko.
Alcohol involved
Mulhall's blood-alcohol concentration registered 0.201, twice the legal limit at the time, police reports showed. Police said three unopened 22-ounce bottles of beer were found in Mulhall's truck.
Mulhall was remorseful in court and acknowledged having had a drinking problem since he was 19, Macejko said.
Judge Evans told Mulhall in court that it was a shame an accident had to be what brought the drinking problem into focus, Macejko said.
rgsmith@vindy.com