Family members tell drunken driver he took ‘selfless, amazing’ woman from their lives

CEDAR RAPIDS — Family members of Bonnie Stover, who was killed after being hit by a drunken driver last year while walking her dog with her husband, told the driver, Kyle Kubite, during his sentencing Monday that he took a “selfless, amazing, loving and patient” mother, wife, sister, daughter and grandmother from them.

Kara Stover, in her victim impact statement in Linn County District Court, said she read about a hit-and-run fatality on social media Nov. 12, 2023, near her parents’ home. Then, on the “Find My Friends” app, she saw her mother’s location in that area and her ”heart sank.“

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She then saw her sister’s location was her parents’ house, but knew they were all getting together for dinner that night. She refused to believe anything was wrong until her dad told them their mother was gone.

Kara said her mother was “truly was a saint and now she will forever be our guardian angel.”

Kubite, 45, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded to homicide by vehicle/operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and leaving scene of accident resulting in death.

During the Monday hearing, Kubite admitted to unlawfully and unintentionally causing the death of Bonnie Stover, 59, on Nov. 12, 2023, at 4:45 p.m. and to not stopping his vehicle and leaving the scene of the accident in the 1400 block of Memorial Dr. SE.

Kubite, during the sentencing portion of the hearing, said he took “responsibility” for his actions and was remorseful for taking a wife and mother from her family. He said he hopes for forgiveness someday. He also hopes his conviction and sentencing might show others the consequences of drinking and driving.

Twin: ‘giving, caring’

“We came into this world together,“ Brenda Ulin, Bonnie Stover’s twin sister, said in her victim impact statement. ”I never knew a world without her. We knew when each other needed a call, we laughed together and cried together. We built each other up and encouraged growth in one another.“

Ulin said her sister’s heart was the “kindest, most giving, caring and thoughtful.” She made everyone “feel seen and feel valued.”

Ulin said she may not “understand God’s plan,” but she knows she will see her sister again, which brings her “great joy and comfort.“

Bonnie Stover, the mother of three daughters, worked at Linn Area Credit Union.

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Other family members who gave statements told Kubite they didn’t think he was remorseful or a “good person” for drinking and driving that day and then leaving the scene without rendering aid or calling the police.

Many other family members and friends in support of the immediate family filled one side of the courtroom.

Kubite also had support from his family and friends in the courtroom.

Sentencing

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Sixth Judicial District Judge David Cox immediately sentenced Kubite to 25 years in prison on the vehicle by homicide charge and five years for leaving the scene of an accident, running the terms concurrently for a total of 25 years, in accordance with plea agreement.

Kubite must serve a mandatory 17 years before being eligible for parole. His driver’s license also will be revoked six years, and he will be ordered to take a drinking and driving course, according to Iowa law, Cox said.

Cox said this sentence is the “closest I can do to provide justice” and give Kubite the best opportunity for rehabilitation.

According to the criminal complaint, police responded to a hit-and-run involving two pedestrians being struck by a silver SUV at 4:45 p.m. that had left the scene.

Bonnie Stover was pronounced dead at the hospital. Shawn Stover, her husband, was treated for an injury to his lower leg.

Police had video from nearby surveillance cameras that showed the vehicle, later identified as Kubite’s, striking both victims, according to the complaint. Police found Kubite’s vehicle parked at his home, 2232 Pine Ave. SW, and talked to Kubite, who they said showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol.

Police also spoke to witnesses who had contact with Kubite before and after the crash who knew he was driving and believed he was intoxicated, the complaint stated.

Kubite told one of the witnesses who saw him after the collision that he had “hit someone on Memorial Drive, that he had not stopped to help and that he was going to prison.”

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