Wrong-way collision results in DUI charges for Belleville man

A single DUI conviction can follow a person for a lifetime. Repeated convictions not only follow a person but also extract significantly more serious penalties. An Easter Sunday collision resulted in a Belleville man being charged with DUI offenses and causing serious physical injury.

The collision occurred in the pre-dawn hours of April 1. Officers received a call about a wrong-way driver on Highway 15. While en route, officers received another call saying that the vehicle had collided head on with another vehicle. When officers reached the scene, they found the vehicle resting on its roof. A second vehicle appeared to have suffered severe front end damage. No one was found in either vehicle.

According to police, the driver of the second vehicle was injured in the collision and was receiving treatment at a local hospital. No other details were available, but her injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. The driver of the first car was also injured in the collision, and police arrested him after he was released from a St. Louis-area hospital. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated DUI. The suspect was convicted on a DUI charge in 1992 and was sentenced to one year of probation. If he is convicted on charges arising from the Easter Sunday accident, the combination of the woman’s injury and the suspect’s prior conviction could result in a more severe sentence.

Anyone who has one or more prior DUI convictions on their record and is facing charges for another DUI offense may wish to consult an experienced DUI defense attorney. A knowledgeable attorney can evaluate the evidence and the facts, suggest helpful defense strategies and negotiate a favorable plea agreement, if circumstances warrant such an approach.

Source: Belleville News-Democrat, “Belleville man charged with DUI in wrong-way crash that injured woman,” Mike Koziatek, April 6, 2018