6-Time DUI Offender Who Killed Delco Woman Gets Decades In Prison

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA — The Newtown Square man who killed a woman while driving under the influence for his sixth convicted time was sentenced to decades in prison Thursday, according to authorities.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland said David Matthew Strowhouer, 30, was sentenced to 25-and-a-half to 51 years in prison for killing Deana Eckman with his vehicle in Upper Chichester on Feb. 16, 2019.

Strowhouer pleaded to third degree murder and homicide by vehicle while DUI, both first-degree felonies, felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, and related offenses.

The fatal incident was Strowhouer sixth DUI case.

At about 9:22 p.m. on Feb. 16, Upper Chichester Police responded to the 3300 block of Market Street for the report of a vehicle crash.

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Officers found a 2019 Subaru with a male driver, later identified as Eckman's husband, and an unresponsive female passenger, later identified as Deana Eckman.

Eckman's husband was extricated from the car and transported to the hospital for his injuries.

Eckman was pronounced dead on the scene.

Witnesses said a dark colored Dodge Ram pickup truck crossed the double yellow lines, going into the opposite lane of travel, then struck the Subaru head on.

An unoccupied, heavily damaged Dodge Ram pickup truck was on the berm of the southbound lane of travel.

Strowhouer then came up to police on scene, said he was a passenger in the truck, and that his cousin had been driving the pickup truck.

Police said Strowhouer had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and that he was intoxicated to the extent that he could not safely operate a motor vehicle.

He claimed he had been at a local bar where he and his family had gathered after the funeral of his mother earlier that day. Strowhouer claimed that he and his cousin left the gathering to go to Chester to buy cocaine.

An investigation, witness testimony, and video surveillance showed Strowhouer was drinking throughout the day and was highly intoxicated when he left a location where his family had gathered. He got behind the wheel of truck, and drove out of the area.

About 20 minutes later, Strowhouer, travelling up to 78 miles per hour, drove the truck into the opposite lane of travel on Market Street when he struck the victims’ Subaru, killing Deana Eckman and severely injuring her husband.

Law enforcement officers were able to prove that Strowhouer lied about his cousin driving the pickup truck as his cousin was in Puerto Rico at the time of the crash.

Strowhouer’s blood was drawn by hospital personnel and he was found to have cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol in his system.