HUNTSVILLE – Commemorating the memory of two Huntsville women who lost their lives to an impaired driver, the Huntsville Police Department’s DUI Task Force will conduct its final traffic safety checkpoint of the year Wednesday.
The checkpoint is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to reduce impaired driving and keep Huntsville roads safe throughout the year, HPD said in a news release.
This year’s checkpoint is dedicated to the memory of Hannah Parton and a second victim whose name is being withheld out of respect for her family, HPD said.
The women were killed around Thanksgiving in 2021 when Jacob Stephens was driving impaired and crashed head-on into their cars on I-565, injuring five others. Stephens pleaded guilty to reckless murder and assault and received a 30-year prison sentence last June.
With the recent completion of their court case, HPD said it is honoring their lives while reinforcing the serious consequences of driving under the influence.
“Impaired driving is preventable, and the choices we make matter,” HPD Sgt. Antonio Shorter said. “This checkpoint honors lives lost and serves as a reminder that one decision behind the wheel can change lives forever.”
Drivers stopped at a checkpoint should be prepared to present to officers their driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration.
HPD’s DUI Task Force uses data from the North Alabama Highway Safety Office, which has identified more than 50 traffic crash hotspots across the city.
Possible checkpoints
- Jordan Lane and Sparkman Drive
- Mastin Lake Road and Pulaski Pike
- Bankhead Parkway and Douglas Lane
- Cecil Ashburn Drive and Old Big Cove Road
- Church Street and Pratt Avenue
- Clinton Avenue and Monroe Street
- University Drive and Old Monrovia Road
- University Drive and Research Park Boulevard
Police said if anyone suspects someone is driving under the influence, call its non-emergency line at 256-722-7100 and provide the location, vehicle and driver description and direction of travel. If there is an immediate threat to public safety, call 911.
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