Matthew Irwin pleads guilty in drunken driving deaths

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By Ann McGlynn | Tuesday, July 1, 2008 9:44 PM CDT | () comments

Matthew Irwin of Rock Island plead guilty this morning to two counts of homicide by vehicle and one count of serious injury by vehicle and operating while intoxicated in Scott County District Court. (Kevin E. Schmidt/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

Admitting he made a “bad decision,” a Rock Island man pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing two men and injuring another in an April 2007 crash on the Centennial Bridge.

Matthew Irwin, in a plea deal with the Scott County Attorney’s office, agreed to plead guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide for the deaths of Nicholas Eaton, 20, and Christopher Rector, 21, both of Davenport. He also pleaded guilty to seriously injuring John Herbert, 32.

“I made a bad decision to drive,” Irwin said during his change of plea in front of Judge Bobbi Alpers in Scott County District Court. “I’m here to take responsibility for that decision.”

Later, he added: “I should have just stayed home.”

The plea deal calls for a sentence of 25 years in prison. A judge will decide whether to accept that recommendation at Irwin’s sentencing hearing on July 31.

A charge of third-offense drunken driving will be dismissed.

Irwin also will be required to pay $150,000 each to the estates of Eaton and Rector, as well as an unspecified amount for Herbert.

Irwin’s northbound Suzuki sedan was going at least 58 mph on April 29, 2007, when he lost control and jumped the 9-inch barrier separating oncoming traffic, according to court documents. The car hit a Chevrolet Geo driven by Eaton. Rector was in the back seat directly behind Eaton.

Irwin’s blood-alcohol content was 0.199 when a blood draw was done about 5 a.m., more than three hours after the 1:49 a.m. accident. The legal limit is 0.08.

The posted speed limit on Centennial Bridge is 30 mph, and witnesses said they saw Irwin weaving in and out of traffic at a high speed shortly before the accident, according to court documents.

Eaton was serving as the designated driver for Aaron Shee, who was celebrating his 21st birthday. Shee sat in the front passenger seat, in front of his older brother, John Herbert. Shee suffered bruises and scrapes in the crash, while Herbert suffered a collapsed lung.

Irwin suffered a broken neck in the crash and was treated at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago after the crash. He continues to be released on furlough from the Scott County Jail for treatment.

The families of the victims have sued the establishments that served alcohol to Irwin the night of the crash. A settlement between the insurance company representing Irwin and the four victims was reached last year.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.