Driver Convicted In Petaluma Couple's Deaths Sentenced To 2 Years

NORTH BAY, CA — A 32-year-old Napa man was taken away in handcuffs from a Santa Rosa courtroom this week to start serving a two-year sentence in Sonoma County jail in connection with the deaths of a Petaluma couple in a May 2015 head-on collision. Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Nancy Shaffer handed down the sentence Monday after jurors convicted Christopher Shuman in January of two counts of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of Richard Steinhart and his wife, Fay Steinhart.

Shuman's sentence also reflected his no-contest pleas for driving on a suspended license in the fatal crash on state Highway 121, south of the city of Sonoma. The day of the crash, Shuman's license had been suspended for two years for two prior DUIs, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office said in a statement about his sentencing.

"On May 6, 2015, Shuman failed to maintain his lane while driving a utility truck, causing his vehicle to leave the roadway at an unsafe speed, resulting in a head-on collision with the victims," prosecutors said.

Shuman was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado work truck south on SR-121, west of Napa Road near Schellville, when he crossed over into the northbound lane and collided with a 2010 Ford Fusion, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver of the Ford, 78-year-old Richard Steinhart, was rushed to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, where he died.

His 72-year-old wife, Faye Steinhart, was pronounced deceased at the crash scene, the CHP said.

Shuman, who suffered minor injuries in the crash, remained at the scene, according to the CHP.

Prosecutors and the CHP, which led the investigation, said Shuman was driving over the posted speed limit and had methamphetamine in his blood.

Sonoma County Deputy DA Robert Blade, of the DA's Vertical DUI Unit, led the prosecution with the assistance of DA Investigators Robyn Katz and Greg Wojcik, as well as victim advocate Elizabeth Garcia.

Funds for the CHP's investigation and the DA's subsequent prosecution were provided through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the DA's Office said.

During Monday's sentencing, several of the couple's surviving family members spoke.

"My parents were two of the most loving supporting and caring people you could ever meet," the Steinharts' son, Brian Dabel, told Judge Shaffer.

"The worst part of this tragedy is that the driver that caused the accident, Mr. Shuman, should not have been on the road," Dabel said. "He should never have been there. By driving on a suspended license, which was obviously suspended for a reason, Mr. Shuman took to the road and subsequently killed two of the greatest people you could ever know."

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.