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On Sept. 30 a traffic tragedy unfolded on Route 116 near Germantown Hills. It is an all too common story.
Illinois State Police Troopers and Woodford County Sheriff’s Department responded to a traffic crash involving three motorcycles on Illinois Route 116 near Far Hills Drive.
Anyone driving by at the time saw an armada of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks.
Heith E. Evans, 32, of Kingston Mines, was westbound with a large group of motorcycles when he collided with other motorcycles in the group being operated by Timothy J. Massey, 32, of Peoria and
Jeremiah J. Althiser, 29, of Creve Coeur.
Evans’ passenger Jessica M. Williamson, 32, of Peoria was thrown from the motorcycle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation of the crash, troopers arrested Evans for DUI. Evans is, of course, presumed innocent.
DUI, despite all the press and law enforcement attention it receives, remains a serious problem on Illinois roads. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, in his 2011 DUI Fact Book, confirms that with the following facts from 2009.
• 309 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which was 36 percent of the 854 total crash fatalities.
• More than 45,900 DUI arrests were recorded by the Secretary of State’s office.
• 92 percent of all drivers arrested for DUI, who were eligible, lost their driving privileges.
• 1,917 drivers under age 21 lost their driving privileges due to Zero Tolerance law violations.
• Males ages 21-24 had the highest DUI arrest rate (about 21 per 1,000 licensed drivers). This rate was four times greater than that of all other drivers arrested for DUI (5 per 1,000 licensed drivers).
These statistics reflect law enforcement’s success in battling DUI on Illinois roads, and the failure of so many to exercise personal responsibility.
Law enforcement in Woodford County does an admirable job battling DUI. But, they can only do so much.
Do your part.
Just don’t drink and drive.
On Sept. 30 a traffic tragedy unfolded on Route 116 near Germantown Hills. It is an all too common story.
Illinois State Police Troopers and Woodford County Sheriff’s Department responded to a traffic crash involving three motorcycles on Illinois Route 116 near Far Hills Drive.
Anyone driving by at the time saw an armada of police cars, ambulances and fire trucks.
Heith E. Evans, 32, of Kingston Mines, was westbound with a large group of motorcycles when he collided with other motorcycles in the group being operated by Timothy J. Massey, 32, of Peoria and
Jeremiah J. Althiser, 29, of Creve Coeur.
Evans’ passenger Jessica M. Williamson, 32, of Peoria was thrown from the motorcycle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the investigation of the crash, troopers arrested Evans for DUI. Evans is, of course, presumed innocent.
DUI, despite all the press and law enforcement attention it receives, remains a serious problem on Illinois roads. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, in his 2011 DUI Fact Book, confirms that with the following facts from 2009.
• 309 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which was 36 percent of the 854 total crash fatalities.
• More than 45,900 DUI arrests were recorded by the Secretary of State’s office.
• 92 percent of all drivers arrested for DUI, who were eligible, lost their driving privileges.
• 1,917 drivers under age 21 lost their driving privileges due to Zero Tolerance law violations.
• Males ages 21-24 had the highest DUI arrest rate (about 21 per 1,000 licensed drivers). This rate was four times greater than that of all other drivers arrested for DUI (5 per 1,000 licensed drivers).
These statistics reflect law enforcement’s success in battling DUI on Illinois roads, and the failure of so many to exercise personal responsibility.
Law enforcement in Woodford County does an admirable job battling DUI. But, they can only do so much.
Do your part.
Just don’t drink and drive.
