Student Leader, Athlete, Cherished Son and Brother
Killed by an Underage Drunk Driver
A Shining Star
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| Stephen and his parents |
He was a quarterback and tight end for the Louisiana State University Tigers. He played every sport at Baton Rouge’s Episcopal High School, earning 13 athletic letters. He was the drummer and percussionist in the school band and hoped to play pro golf. He had a bright and promising future ahead of him.
Instead, Stephen Underwood, 23, was killed on July 31, 1998 by an underage drunk driver reportedly going 85 mph with a blood alcohol content (BAC) three times the legal limit.
A Devastating Impact
After the crash, Stephen, the middle of Don and Rebecca Underwood’s three sons, had a punctured lung, a broken pelvis and both thighs had broken bones protruding through his skin. His bruised spleen was removed at the hospital, where he eventually bled to death. The family was never allowed to see him.
For days the Underwood’s house, yard and street were packed with friends of Stephen who needed a place to gather and mourn. Speakers in the church parking lot enabled those who couldn’t fit into the crowded sanctuary to hear the funeral service.
A Time for Healing
It took Rebecca almost five years to break free of the “foggy area, with God helping me little by little. I’m just so grateful to God that if he was to live 23 years, I’m so glad to have him as my son,” Rebecca says.
The Underwood family waited two years before the offender was finally brought to trial. The offender was charged with vehicular homicide and sentenced to one year of hard labor in Angola. He was released on good behavior after serving six months of his sentence.
Now, the entire Underwood family – including grandchildren – faithfully attend any local MADD events including the Christmas Memorial service. Rebecca stays in regular contact with her MADD victim advocate, but she is not up to speaking on victim impact panels. Don and Stephen were so close that Don has difficulty talking about Stephen at all.
A Lasting Legacy
Still, plenty of other people continue to talk about Stephen 10 years after the drunk driving crash that killed him. One fan who never met him but saw him play remembers the heart-wrenching story covered by the media, and understood the community’s loss. Hamp Hardee, a former resident from near Shreveport, Louisiana, says, “Stephen Underwood was known as much or more for his leadership and integrity as for his football stats.”
Every year, Episcopal High School coaches tell their teams about the three Underwood brothers who played football with such integrity and intensity. Brent, Jason and Stephen were very close and cared deeply for others. Stephen has been inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.
At the entrance to the Episcopal High School football field, a memorial bronze bust commemorates Stephen’s life. A billboard rotates around Baton Rouge showing Stephen’s LSU football picture, with the message “This time he couldn’t defend himself against a drunk driver.”
If you or a loved one has been affected by a drunk driving crash, 
MADD Victim Services can help. We have more than 1,500 trained victim advocates nationwide who provide bereaved families and injured victims with support and information. Call our Victim/Survivor Helpline at
1-877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435) to speak with a Victim Advocate.
Connect with other victims/survivors nationwide. Share your story in our password-protected chat.
MADD gives you a voice and a place where your loved ones can be honored. Visit our online victim’s tribute to submit information.