Steubenville man pleads guilty to DUI causing death

Chad Allen Keyser, a 35-year-old man from Steubenville, pleaded guilty to DUI causing death on May 7, 2025. He faces a sentence of 3 to 15 years in prison and fines between $1,000 and $3,000. The incident occurred on May 3, 2024, when Keyser crashed into a traffic light support pole, resulting in the death of his passenger, Christine Michelle Shannon. Prosecutors confirmed that Keyser had consumed heroin and had other controlled substances, including cocaine metabolites and fentanyl, in his blood at the time of the accident. Shannon suffered multiple blunt force injuries, and the state Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death was due to the crash.

Keyser will return for sentencing following a pre-sentence investigation ordered by Judge Jason Cuomo. Additionally, his driver's license may be revoked for 10 years after incarceration, highlighting the long-term repercussions of his actions. This case illustrates the ongoing issues of impaired driving and its tragic consequences in the community.