Newtown Square Man Pleads Guilty To Fatal DUI Crash

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA — A Newtown Square man pleaded guilty to a fatal DUI crash, according to Delaware County authorities.

Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland announced that David Matthew Strowhouer, 30, of Newtown Square, pleaded guilty in relation to a Feb. 16 murder and homicide by vehicle while DUI in Upper Chichester.

Strowhouer pleaded guilty to third degree murder and homicide by vehicle while DUI, both felonies of the first degree, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, a felony of the second degree, aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI, accidents involving death while not properly licensed, felonies of the third degree, and driving under suspension while DUI, a misdemeanor of the third degree.

The DA's office said Strowhouer committed five DUIs before the fatal crash in February.

He is slated to be sentenced on Nov. 14.

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

Upon arrival, officers observed a 2019 Subaru with a male operator and an unresponsive female passenger, later identified as Deana Eckman.

Paramedics and Fire Rescue crews attempted to extricate the occupants of the Subaru.

The male driver was extricated and transported to the hospital for his injuries. Eckman, was pronounced dead on the scene.

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

Officers saw a heavily damaged, unoccupied Dodge Ram pickup truck on the berm of the southbound lane of travel.

Strowhouer approached law enforcement and said that he had been a passenger of the Dodge Ram pickup truck and that his cousin was driving the truck.

Officers noted that 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. Strowhouer 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.

Investigation showed Strowhouer was drinking throughout the day and was highly intoxicated when he left a residence where his family had gathered, entered the driver’s seat of the truck, and drove out of the area.

About 20 minutes later, Strowhouer, travelling up to 78 miles per hour, drove the Dodge Ram pickup 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.