Illinois Prosecutors ask judge to allow recklesss homidcide charge in trooper crash
Illinos prosecutors are pursuing a reckless homicide charge against a state trooper who was driving in heavy holiday traffic at speeds of over 100 miles causing an accident killing 2 people.
State Trooper Matt Mitchell was driving at 126 mph in order to reach an accident scene on I-64 which has already been responded to by serveral emergency vehicles.
Killed in the accident were Jessica Uhl 18 and her sister Kelli Uhl 13. Injured in the accident was Kelly marler and his then-pregnant wife Christine.
Trooper Mitchell was speeding to the accident with people trapped in a burning car.
Prosecutors dispute that fact. They say the only car that was on fire was the car that Mitchell struck.
St. Clair County Assistant State's Attorney Jim Piper is asking the judge to allow the charges of reckless homicide against Trooper Mitchell. "A 'person of ordinary intelligence' would know that a trooper does not engage in such conduct, especially in light of the the fact that the defendant was responding to a secured accident scene to essentially write a report."
John O'Gara, Mitchell's attorney has asked the judge to dismiss the state's charges. O'Gara says Mitchell wasn't aware that he was breaking the law when he was driving at those speeds.
