An Illinois man is facing several DUI charges following a car crash that killed three Des Moines residents, including a 4-year-old girl.
Illinois police responded to a head-on collision between a pickup truck going southbound on Illinois Highway 71 and an SUV heading northbound around 9 p.m. on Friday, July 31, according to a news release from the Illinois State Police.
The driver of the truck, Carson Rehkopf, 22, of Sugar Grove, Illinois, entered the northbound lanes of the highway while attempting to pass multiple vehicles, according to the release. There were four vehicles involved in the crash.
Amy Witter, 38, was pronounced dead on the scene, while James Witter, 65, and a 4-year-old girl were taken to separate hospitals, where both were later pronounced dead, according to a news release from three Illinois county coroners. All were in the SUV and were identified as Des Moines residents.
A fourth SUV passenger, who authorities have not identified, was injured in the crash and taken to a nearby hospital, according to the Illinois State Police release. Rehkopf was also injured in the crash.
Rehkopf was arrested Sunday, Aug. 2, and charged with six counts of aggravated DUI involving death and two counts of aggravated DUI involving great bodily harm, according to a Kendall County Sheriff’s Office (Illinois) inmate listing. He remains in the custody of the Kendall County Jail.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 3 Des Moines residents, including 4-year-old, killed in Illinois crash
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
