ILLINOIS STATE POLICE TO CONDUCT DISTRACTED DRIVING ENFORCEMENT

Effingham – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 9 Commander, Captain Nathan Douglas, announces the ISP will conduct Distracted Driving Enforcement Program patrols in Wabash, Effingham, Richland, and White County during November. This program allows ISP to focus on distracted driving laws to prevent traffic deaths and serious injury crashes.

Distractions can increase a driver’s risk of being in an accident:

• Eating or drinking (non-alcoholic beverages) increases the risk by three times.

• Sending a text message increases the risk by four times.

• Reaching for an object increases the risk by eight times.

• Reading a text message can take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. ;

Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws, especially the following:

• All drivers are prohibited from reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication, and from browsing the internet.

• All drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices.

• Drivers under the age of 19 are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free.

• All drivers are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free, while in school speed zones and work zones.

• School bus drivers are not permitted to use any type of cellphone, even hands-free.

• It is illegal to use a cellphone or take photos or videos on wireless devices when driving within 500 feet of an emergency scene.

This distracted driving enforcement campaign is made possible by traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Single vehicle accident leads to arrest of Evansville man on DUI charge

On October 14, 2023, at 12:54 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt was dispatch to a single vehicle accident in the 1200 block of South 25 West near Haubstadt.  Upon arriving Deputy Hunt with the assistance of Fort Branch Deputy Marshal Jeff Beck located a Wesley Klueg of Evansville with a 2007 Chevy Silverado that was on its side in a ditch.  Upon speaking with Mr. Klueg there were clues that indicated that he was under the influence of alcohol.  At that point Deputy Hunt began a roadside DUI investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Hunt placed Mr. Klueg into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Klueg was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Minor Consumption.  He has since posted a $650 bond. 
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Evansville man arrested for driving without ever receiving a license

On October 15, 2023, at 1:52 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Wyatt Hunt conducted a traffic stop on US 41 near County Road 350 South after observing a Black 2012 Mazda SUV speeding.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Hunt identified the driver as 23 year old Steve St Cois of Evansville.  During a roadside investigation Mr. St Cois was run through the National Crime Information Center and Indiana Data And Communications System and it was determined that Mr. St Cois was operating his vehicle without ever receiving a valid operator’s license.  At that point Mr. St. Cois was placed into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle Whiles Suspended on a Prior Conviction and Operator Never Licensed.  He has since posted a $650 bond. 
 
Assisting Deputy Hunt in his investigation was Deputy Bart Wagner and Princeton Officer Nicholas Rainey.
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Traffic stop leads to arrest of impaired driver

On October 15, 2023, at 6:05 p.m. Gibson County Sergeant Loren Barchett conducted a traffic stop on a Red 2016 Chevrolet passenger car for speeding on Interstate 69 near Oakland City.  Upon approaching the vehicle Sgt. Barchett immediately detected the odor of alcohol coming from 43 year old Rodriguez Molleda Leoncio of Indianapolis.  At that point Sgt. Barchett began a roadside DUI investigation with Mr. Leoncio who was the driver of the vehicle.  At the conclusion of his investigation Sgt. Barchett placed Mr. Leoncio into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated and Operator Never Licensed.  He remains in custody on an outside agency hold.
 
Assisting Sgt. Barchett in his investigation was Deputies Logan Lashbrook and Quinten Might.  Other assisting officers were Owensville Officer Pedro Ferreira and Oakland City Officers Tim Gaines and Michael McGregor.
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Francisco man arrested for driving while a Habitual Traffic Violator.

On Monday, October 16, 2023, at approximately 4:48 p.m. Gibson County Sheriff Bruce Vanoven conducted a traffic stop on a Green GMC pickup for having an improperly displayed registration plate, and the plates that were displayed belonged to another vehicle.  Upon conducting the stop on County Road 500 North near County Road 550 East Sheriff Vanoven identified the driver as 43 year old Michael B. Hill of Francisco.  During a roadside investigation Sheriff Vanoven ran Mr. Hill through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles and discovered the Mr. Hill was listed as a Habitual Traffic Violator.  At that point Mr. Hill was taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While a Habitual Traffic Violator.  He remains in custody on a $750 bond.  Mr. Hill was also issued citations for improper display of a license plate, operating a vehicle with fictitious plate, and operating a vehicle without financial responsibility. 
 
Assisting Sheriff Vanoven in his investigation was Deputy Logan Lashbrook.
 
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.