EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — A Granite City man was sentenced Friday after crashing his vehicle into a home in 2021, striking and killing the woman who lived inside.
Jonathan Beasley, 48, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Friday by Madison County State's Attorney Thomas A. Haine. Beasley had pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI resulting in death, but the plea deal did not include a sentence.
Beasley crashed his pickup into a Granite City home on Joy Avenue on July 5, 2021, and killed Virginia Ohren, 74, who lived in the home at that time.
His blood-alcohol level was 0.255 percent, according to the press release. In Illinois, a driver is considered intoxicated at 0.08 percent.
“This tragedy was totally preventable,” Haine said. “Virginia Ohren meant so much to her family and to her community. We hope that the resolution of this case provides some closure for her loved ones.”
When police arrived at the scene, Beasley was standing next to the truck, inside Ohren's home. According to the police report, Beasley told an officer he was home.
Granite City police determined through an investigation that Beasley had been visiting various bars throughout the evening, according to the press release.
Beasley had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated DUI resulting in death, according to the press release.
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