The Illinois State Police (ISP) arrested 34-year-old Edwin O. Pacheco-Meza of Indianapolis, IN after a fatal crash in Westfield, IL Friday evening. Monday, the Clark County State’s Attorney’s Office filed two counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence and one count of Reckless Homicide against Meza.
Around 7 p.m. on Friday, October 24th ISP responded to a two vehicle crash on West Lincoln Street near South Division Street in Westfield. Preliminary information shows a Chevrolet Express van driven by Pacheco-Meza was traveling eastbound when it crossed the center line and hit a Ford F150 truck traveling westbound head-on. Two passengers in the F150 truck, 71-year-old Michael Clayton and 66-year-old Gail Clayton, both of Charleston, IL, were pronounced deceased on scene, and the driver and an additional passenger in the truck, 72-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, both of Charleston, were transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The passenger of the van, 18-year-old Juan L. Morales Martinez of Lawrence, IN was uninjured and the driver, Pacheco-Meza, was treated for minor injuries.
Following the crash, Pacheco-Meza was detained in the Clark County Jail. On Monday, a detention hearing was conducted and Pacheco-Meza remains in custody pending court proceedings. The investigation is ongoing by the Illinois State Police.