Deadly accident draws prison time

Published 9:00 pm Monday, February 5, 2007

An Everett man who had been drinking and didn’t stop after his car struck a pedestrian Sept. 27 was sentenced to nearly 31/2 years in prison Monday.

Winton Shane Wahlstrom, 31, pleaded guilty in December to charges of hit-and-run accident with a fatality, and drunken driving.

The Snohomish County Superior Court case was filed in the death of John E. Howard, 57, of Everett.

Howard was crossing W. Casino Road in the 200 block when the car Wahlstrom was driving struck him, deputy prosecutor Paul Stern said.

Wahlstrom had a blood-alcohol level that was measured at nearly twice the legal limit an hour after the collision.

Defense attorney Lorne Grier of Lynnwood sought a special sentence for Wahlstrom because this was his first felony conviction, and because he said Wahlstrom and the community would be better off.

The special sentence would have resulted in a much shorter prison sentence, and a requirement of in-patient drug and alcohol treatment for Wahlstrom.

Grier argued that Wahlstrom was a perfect candidate for such a program.

Stern argued that someone died and Wahlstrom should serve a term within the standard sentencing range. Judge Anita Farris agreed with the prosecutor.

Stern recommended the 31/2-year term, the low end of the sentencing range. The high end is about 41/2 years.

Several police officers were in the area at the time of the collision, and one saw Howard start to cross the road. The road was well lit, and the car driven by Wahlstrom did not slow down or change lanes as it approached Howard, court papers said.

After the collision, Wahlstrom’s car accelerated and police started to pursue it. Wahlstrom stopped about four blocks from the collision.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.