Man pleads guilty to Palm Springs street racing injury crash
A man who ran a red light during a high-speed street race in Palm Springs, triggering a crash that seriously injured another motorist, pleaded guilty today to felony counts of reckless driving and willfully engaging in a speed contest.
Steven Howlett, 28, of Palm Springs, is slated to be sentenced in October for the June 4, 2017, noontime crash at the intersection of Ramon and Vella roads, just south of the Palm Springs International Airport. Police said Howlett was racing with another driver at speeds of more than 60 miles per hour along Ramon Road, then ran a red light and broadsided a Hyundai Elantra in the
intersection, according to an arrest warrant declaration.
The Hyundai’s driver suffered fractures to his spine and internal bleeding, the declaration states.
Howlett reportedly told police that he was racing another driver at around 60 mph, according to court documents, though witnesses told officers that he was traveling as fast as 80 mph. A woman who later contacted KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 said she was in Howlett’s car during the crash. She disputes that account. She tells KESQ News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 that Howlett did not admit to racing at the scene and says he is an “outstanding member of the community.” She said another driver who was operating recklessly led to the crash.
The other driver was not identified in court documents, but the declaration stated that Howlett and a witness told police that person was driving a BMW.
Prosecutors charged Howlett in late November.
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