East Carbon man faces automobile homicide charges

PRICE — An East Carbon man has been charged with two counts of automobile homicide in connection with a September crash that killed two people and critically injured two others.

In addition to the pair of second-degree felony charges, Darin Scott Hawkinson was also charged Wednesday in 7th District Court with speeding, a class C misdemeanor.

Hawkinson was driving 81 mph on Sept. 23 when he drifted off state Route 6 and then swerved back into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer truck, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

The truck hit Hawkinson's Chevy Cavalier, splitting the car in two. The Cavalier was struck a second time by an oncoming Hyundai Santa Fe.

Sandy residents Sharlene Atkinson, 64, and Lynnette Hulse, 63 — both passengers in the Santa Fe — were killed in the collision. Two other occupants in the Hyundai — driver Steven Dee Hulse, 64, and passenger William Atkinson Jr., 65 — were each critically injured.

Hawkinson also sustained critical injuries.

The driver of the semi truck, James Melvin, was not injured.

Hawkinson was impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash, according to charging documents. He also has a prior conviction for impaired driving, the charges state.

Court records show Hawkinson pleaded guilty in June 2010 in Emery County Justice Court to impaired driving, a class B misdemeanor, and improper usage of lanes, a class C misdemeanor.

A summons has been issued, ordering Hawkinson to appear in court. The date for that appearance was not available Wednesday night.

E-mail: gliesik@desnews.com

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