Carbon County man gets prison for double-fatal DUI crash

An East Carbon man who pleaded guilty to driving drunk and causing a crash that killed two Sandy women last year has been sentenced to prison for up to five years.

Darin Scott Hawkinson, 48, entered guilty pleas in June to two third-degree felony counts of automobile homicide in connection with the September 2011 deaths of Sharlene Atkinson, 64, and Lynnette Hulse, 63.

As part of a plea deal, the counts were reduced from second-degree felonies and a misdemeanor speeding charge was dismissed.

Seventh District Judge Douglas Thomas ordered the two zero-to-five-years terms to run concurrently.

According to charging documents, Hawkinson was driving under the influence on U.S. Highway 6 near Price on the afternoon of Sept. 23, 2011, when he swerved in to oncoming traffic. Hawkinson's car hit an eastbound car, pushing it into a semi truck's path.

Atkinson and Hulse were sitting in the back of the car that was pushed into the truck's path.

shunt@sltrib.com