Drowning victim had five felony DUI convictions

<br>PRUE, Okla. (AP) _ A Claremore man who drowned in a car that was driven into Keystone Lake had five felony DUI convictions. <br><br>Leroy Dean Sanders, 39, and Shonda Lynn Stewart, 35, of Tulsa, drowned

Friday, December 21st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PRUE, Okla. (AP) _ A Claremore man who drowned in a car that was driven into Keystone Lake had five felony DUI convictions.

Leroy Dean Sanders, 39, and Shonda Lynn Stewart, 35, of Tulsa, drowned early Tuesday after the car they were riding in ran off a dead-end Pawnee County road into Appalachia Bay, about 12 miles northwest of Sand Springs, authorities said.

Matthew Shaffer, 15, who escaped from the driver's seat of the Toyota Tercel, told a nearby resident that both Stewart and Sanders were too drunk to drive.

Sanders had five convictions of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs after a previous conviction, records claim. The convictions reportedly came in Tulsa in 1989 and 1993; Rogers County, two in 1992; and Kay County, one for Sept. 11, 2000.

He received sentences totaling 15 years for the crimes, including a four-year term for the Kay County offense, documents claim. No records were immediately available to reveal how much time he actually served.

The Pawnee County District Attorney's Office will determine if any criminal charges will be filed against Shaffer.