Mar 26, 2024 By Mike Jones 4 min read

A Hanover Township man who was drunk when he crashed during a road rage incident on Easter Sunday in 2022, killing his wife and injuring his daughter, showed no emotion as family members – including his two adult children – spoke about how the incident affected them.

“My mom was my world and she did nothing wrong,” said Alison Wilson, who was severely injured in the crash. “This accident tore our family apart. … My mom did everything for this family, and now there’s nothing left.”

Stewart A. Wilson looked forward as several relatives spoke during his sentencing hearing about what the April 17, 2022, crash on Steubenville Pike in Hanover Township did to the family after 52-year-old Denise Pierce-Wilson died.

Wilson, 48, pleaded guilty Jan. 16 to involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He appeared in Washington County Court of Common Pleas on Monday as Judge Jesse Pettit accepted the sentencing agreement that will send Wilson to jail for 30 days, followed by a year on electronic home monitoring and five years on probation.

Alison Wilson said they just left Easter Sunday dinner with family and were driving to the store for various items when Wilson got into a road rage situation with another driver. She recalled her father saying “watch this” while swerving as he was speeding in an attempt to pass another vehicle before eventually crashing. She said she feels like she not only lost her mother, but also her father following the crash after he estranged himself from the family and showed no remorse.

“Dad, God gave you a second chance, and I wonder why,” said Alison Wilson, who still suffers trauma from the crash. “You haven’t done anything good since the accident.”

Other family members who gave victim impact statements described how Wilson has never apologized for the crash, refused to provide a portion of Pierce-Wilson’s ashes to them and seemingly moved on with his life with a new girlfriend. The family also accused him of continuing to drink alcohol at local bars and taking money from various fundraisers without giving any proceeds to his injured daughter to help pay for her medical bills.

The couple’s other daughter, Hanna Wilson, was blunt with her criticism during her victim impact statement.

“He doesn’t deserve to call himself a father,” she said before referring to Wilson by his first name. “Stewart, you’re a disgrace. You’re a walking time bomb. … This man sitting in front of me is not my father. He’s a monster.”

She recalled getting a phone call from her sister who was involved in the crash to alert the family of what happened. Hanna Wilson got to the scene quickly since it was about a quarter-mile from their family’s house, and she recalled finding her sister and father severely injured, while her mother was mortally wounded.

“I will forever be traumatized by that moment,” Hanna Wilson said of seeing her mother in her dying moments. “He shows no remorse. He goes out drinking, still to this day.”

Wilson declined to speak or apologize in court, instead having his defense attorney, Brent McCune, speak on his behalf. McCune said Wilson’s blood-alcohol level was not “outrageous” since it was .088%, which is just above the legal limit to drive a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania. McCune added that Wilson was also severely injured in the crash and is unable to work because of it.

“Obviously, this is a family that has been broken by this,” McCune said. “He acknowledges it.”

Pettit appeared to be moved by the statements made by the victim’s family members, but said he would accept the sentence that was agreed upon by both sides. He ordered Wilson to report to the Washington County jail today to begin serving his 30-day sentence.

“I’m hoping today brings some closure to the family,” Pettit said.

Wilson had been facing felony charges of homicide by vehicle and homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, as well as the misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and DUI, to which he ultimately pleaded guilty.