Jurors rule man’s death a accident

Local News

Discussion

June 12, 2008

Better lighting needed on U.S. Route 150

BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL The Commercial-News Thu Jun 12, 2008, 10:54 AM CDT

DANVILLE — Witnesses spoke up where lab tests couldn’t confirm the situation leading up to the death of an Oakwood man earlier this year.

Twenty-four-year-old Jody Wood died when he was struck by a car just after 10 p.m. on March 14 along U.S. Route 150 close to the Halfway Inn, 1401 Warrington Ave. He was later pronounced dead at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center.

Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Kirk Miller said bartenders described Wood as extremely intoxicated and told police they quit serving him two hours prior to the accident.

Two women standing outside the bar said Wood was agitated when he left the tavern. Wearing all dark clothing, he then walked into U.S. Route 150 and into the path of a westbound 1997 Chrysler driven by Kimberly Bidner.

“In one estimation, there was nothing the driver could have done,” Miller told the two-man, four-woman coroner’s inquest jury Wednesday morning.

Wood’s level of intoxication will remain a mystery, however, after blood samples taken for toxicology tests did not make it to the state crime labs.

Coroner Peggy Johnson said hairline cracks were discovered in the test tubes holding the blood upon their arrival to Springfield. The cracks eliminated the small amount of blood to begin with, leaving nothing to perform tests on.

The jury, after debating for several minutes, determined Wood’s death to be an accident.

Jurors added the assessment that better lighting should be installed along the roadway from Colonial Manor to Henning Road. Johnson said their suggestion would be passed on to the Illinois Department of Transportation and lawmakers.

Miller said no tickets were issued as a result of the accident and an inspection found all lights on the vehicle to be in working order. All information on the case has been turned over to the state’s attorney’s office for review.

Family members, including Wood’s mother and stepfather, Andy and Vicki Verhoeven, attended the inquest hearing.

Also at Wednesday’s inquests, a hearing was held regarding the shooting death of Kenneth Sims on March 22 in the 1900 block of Deerwood Drive last month.

Danville Police Detective Keith Garrett relayed much of the story already related in the case. An officer was flagged down along Fairchild Street by people in a white Buick who said they were taking a gunshot victim, Sims, to the hospital.

The shooting took place in front of 1901 Deerwood Drive, and five people already are in custody in connection with the incident.

Sims’ mother attended the hearing, asking Garrett how many times her son was shot. Garrett declined to comment, asking that the information be withheld for trial.

The jury debated before ruling the shooting a homicide.

Police still are searching for another suspect in the case.

The suspect has not been named, however, police testimony for preliminary hearings last week indicated an Antuan Lee was at the scene at the time of the shooting. Lee has not been arrested.

Text Only

Local News

Health officials seek public’s opinion
Determining the health issues local residents deem important will be the focus of an upcoming meeting in Danville.

February 12, 2012
Goldendoodles, family a perfect match
Chris and Kelli Pinkerton have always liked the friendly, personable golden retrievers, except for the shedding.

February 12, 2012 3 Photos
Songwriter: Time to slow down
After nearly a lifetime in the country-music business, Bob Payne has earned plenty of awards and rewards — but not the monetary kind.

February 12, 2012 1 Photo
Lincoln remains in the spotlight
Since 2002, the Papers of Abraham Lincoln has been actively obtaining images of every document by or to Abraham Lincoln.

February 12, 2012
Musings on tea, Dickens, old bikes
A recent column about tea and tea drinking brought this from a kindred spirit.

February 12, 2012
Lincolns visit local library
The large meeting room at the Danville Public Library overflowed again Saturday, as Max and Donna Daniels, listed among the premier Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln presenters in the nation, entertained adults and children alike with their stories.

February 11, 2012 1 Photo
City matches needed for grant funding
The city will need up to $600,000 as a local match for the South Griffin Street bridge replacement.

February 11, 2012
Dental clinic collects formal wear
Late last year, the staff at North Vermilion Family Dental decided to do something to give back to the community.

February 11, 2012
Love INC sets rock-a-thon
February 11, 2012
DLO puts on production
February 11, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Jurors rule man’s death a accident

Better lighting needed on U.S. Route 150

Site Map

Contact Us