ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — A Florissant man was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for a wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 that killed a 7-year-old boy.
Dioavian Cook, 25, was sentenced Tuesday after entering an Alford plea to felony DWI resulting in death and two counts of felony DWI resulting in physical injury in connection with the August 2023 crash. Judge Michael Fagras sentenced him to the maximum recommended sentence of 15 years.
A news release from St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph McCulloch said Cook was driving in the wrong direction of I-70 at speeds near 100 mph. Cook then hit a car head-on near Wentzville.
A 7-year-old boy was in a car with two other adults on I-70 near David Hoekel Parkway when the crash happened at about 3:30 a.m., troopers said. He was transported to SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital in Lake St. Louis, where he was pronounced dead, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.
The two adults in the car with the child, a 42-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, sustained moderate and minor injuries, respectively. They were transported to the same hospital for treatment.
Cook was arrested by MSHP troopers after the crash. He sustained serious injuries and taken to a local hospital.
Two hours after the crash, Cook's blood alcohol content was about .20, the release said.
