Steven Rhone’s Story Part 2 - Damian Scott Mackay Guilty of Vehicular Homicide

Posted on October 13, 2007
Filed Under DUI

Bellingham, Washington - October 5, 2007. Steven Rhone, 19, was visiting friends at Western Washington University this past June. Steven had Western in his sights as his college of choice. However, this visit to Western would result in a horrific tragedy. On June 2, around 2:00 a.m. Steven was walking near where Indian Street and High Street converge just north of campus.

I know this area very well because I lived only a few blocks further north while attending Western. For two years I walked to college past this same location. The north entrance to Western’s campus is approximately 100 feet away. Three massive freshman dorms are situated right there. Someone is always walking at this location no matter what time it is.

Unfortunately, Steven Rhone was walking at this location on June 2, at 2:00 a.m. Unfortunate because Damien Scott Mackay, 22, and his friends were drinking heavily the hours previous. Damian, Amada Littrell, Amber Cooper and Damian’s Uncle Chad Abbott were spending their evening at the Horseshoe Café and Downtown Johnny’s. I had a few drinks at the Horseshoe during my days as a Viking, but I never drove to Bellingham bars since I lived a few blocks away. Mackay had some drinks at the Horseshoe too. He told police he had between 9 to 12 drinks on June 2.

Drinking and driving do not mix, but Mackay never learned that lesson. Around 2:00 a.m. Mackay drove into Steven Rhone as he was walking at Indian and High. Instead of rendering assistance or calling for medical attention Mackay and his merry band began to cover up the incident. They drove Damian’s car to Littrell’s and Uncle Chad bought a car cover. Thankfully police were able to track down each participant.

On October 5th Mackay was given plenty of time to learn drinking and driving do not mix. Too bad he will learn that lesson after his life intersected with Steven Rhone’s. Damian Scott Mackay entered a guilty plea to vehicular homicide and felony hit and run. He was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison; an absolute pathetic punishment for taking such a young life. The other three model citizens each entered a plea to rendering criminal assistance. Each will spend only 5 months in a Whatcom County jail facility.

I read this same story every few days finding material to blog about. There are approximately 47,000 DUI arrests each year in Washington State. About 17,000 people die each year in the United States because of drinking and driving. When will our government put an end to these senseless deaths? We can stop this crime by requiring an Ignition Interlock Device in every vehicle operated in the United States. Seatbelts save lives, and so do interlocks. I am disgusted by this story, but have no clue what it feels like to experience such a nightmare.

Sandra Rhone, Steven Rhone’s mother, certainly understands what it is like living in that nightmare. Sandra contacted me and inquired how she can express her story and her pain. I immediately reached out to Mrs. Rhone inviting her to be a guest blogger here or I would post anything she provided. Sandra Rhone’s and her family’s words will be posted next in Steven Rhone’s Story Part 3 - A Mother’s Statement in Court.

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