Three individuals were injured – one requiring a life-flight to Peoria – after an accident that occurred Sunday night in Galesburg.
Galesburg Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of East Main Street and Michigan Avenue for a two vehicle collision involving injury at around 11:00 p.m.
According to police reports, officers came upon a pair of pickup trucks that sustained severe damage from the accident.
Drivers in both vehicles were unresponsive to officers and required extrication from their trucks.
Eye-witnesses told officers that a black Chevrolet had entered the intersection and an east-bound white Ford had blown a red light and struck the Chevy on the drivers side door.
Officers spoke with a 23-year-old man who had been a passenger in the Chevrolet. He was bleeding from his face when told officers that after the accident he crawled over the driver to get out.
The driver of the Ford, 50-year-old Jeffrey R. Morris of Blanchester, Ohio, was pulled from the vehicle by Galesburg Fire Department personnel – allegedly telling officers he had consumed “20 beers” that night. He was taken to OSF St. Mary Medical Center.
The driver of the Chevrolet, 27-year-old Cory F. Clewell, was bleeding from the head and having trouble breathing. He was transported to Cottage Hospital where a blood test was done – and then life flighted to OSF St. Francis in Peoria.
Police reports indicate that both men had blood-alcohol levels above the legal limit of .08 . Clewell’s BAC was allegedly .156 , while Morris’ BAC was .346 .
Morris was transported from St. Mary’s to the Knox County Jail for processing. Police reports indicate he had two prior convictions in Iowa and Louisiana for driving under the influence.
Clewell was also cited for driving under the influence.
