SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – A man is charged with two counts of automobile homicide for a deadly crash near Price.
Two sisters, Lynnette Hulse and Sharlene Atkinson were killed in a three vehicle crash last September.
Court records show that Darin Atkinson of Carbon County was charged Wednesday with second degree felonies as well as driving while under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.
It has been a long wait for Hulse’s husband.
“Our community lost two wonderful ladies, they were productive and helped charities, they raised grandkids," says Steven Hulse.
Last September, Hulse was driving on Highway 6 outside of Price. His brother-in-law (and Atkinson’s husband) was in the front seat. The two sisters were in the back seat.
That’s when a car coming from the opposite direction veered into his lane.
“Just as I saw that movement, the car hit,” Hulse says. “I never heard the collision. I blacked out. I never heard the crash.”
When Hulse woke up he saw the chaos. A vehicle was cut in half; pieces of metal were on the road; bodies were on the highway and paramedics and police were scrambling to offer assistance.
He says that’s when he learned the semi-truck which was following them, ran into the backside of their vehicle.
But he says both women were still alive.
It was at the hospital someone told him the grim news.
“She says your wife and other lady didn’t survive,” he says. “I say what? She says they didn't make it. And I say oh my god. My head started spinning.”
Five months later, it was ABC 4 News that told him the man who allegedly crashed into them is facing two counts of automobile homicide.
“His selfish stupid actions has caused pain and suffering for so many people,” Hulse says.
He still works, his body is recovering from the injuries and after 38 years of marriage he feels so alone.
"I keep asking myself will I ever go to a movie again just because I don’t have anyone to go with,” he says. “I don’t want to go by myself.”
And what bothers Hulse is this: despite charges against Hawkinson, he's still driving and has yet to step foot in jail.
