Teen sentenced to 10 years for crash that killed Confluence Academy assistant principal

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A teen who was charged in the May 2024 Kirkwood crash that killed local assistant principal Sarah Howell was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

John E. Brink, 19, pleaded guilty in court Friday to involuntary manslaughter for the killing of 45-year-old Howell. The crash happened on May 4, 2024. Prosecutors say Brink was intoxicated and driving 90 mph on Kirkwood Road, which has a speed limit of 35 mph, when he ran a red light and hit Howell’s car.

According to a St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office news release, the Missouri State Highway Patrol cited Brink for being a minor in possession of alcohol on June 1, 2024, less than a month after the crash happened.

“If the court does not hold him able, it seems unlikely anyone else will,” Howell’s brother said in a victim impact statement.

Howell was the middle school assistant principal at Confluence Academy’s South City campus.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said Brink on June 1, 2024 was cited for drunk driving. He was cited on that date for minor in possession of alcohol.