Alcohol suspected in wrong-way fatality on I-255

Three separate phone calls to emergency services failed to avert a wrong-way collision on I-255 near Godfrey, Illinois, on January 17. The multi-vehicle collision resulted in one fatality. The wrong-way driver is suspected of being intoxicated.

The man who was killed was driving north on I-255 when his car was struck by a southbound driver who was traveling in the wrong lane. Three people saw the wrong way driver and made calls to alert authorities. The last person to call was talking to the dispatcher when the collision occurred. After the initial collision, another car struck the car driven by the victim from behind. A police officer described the victim’s car as having been “sandwiched.”

The wrong-way driver was taken by air to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for treatment of her injuries, which were described as critical. The driver of the second car was also transported to Barnes in serious condition. Police characterized wrong-way drivers as every day phenomena that occur as often as ten times a day.

If the wrong-way driver is found to have been drunk at the time of the accident, she may face additional charges of aggravated DUI and reckless homicide. Penalties range from possible imprisonment of one to three years and a fine of up to $25,000. Anyone facing a DWI/DUI charge may wish to consult an experienced DUI defense attorney for advice on potential defenses, assistance with negotiating a plea agreement and representation at trial if an agreement is not reached.

Source: Belleville News-Democrat, “Wrong-way crash kills one, injures two near Godfrey,” Dana Rieck and Mary Cooley, Jan. 18, 2018