SWANSEA, Ill. — A man is facing two felony charges for a Swansea car crash that killed a 27-year-old woman last month.
The St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office on Tuesday charged Jacob T. Hall, 23, with one count each of aggravated driving under the influence causing death and reckless homicide for the May 2 crash that killed Karlie Langley.
Langley's family spoke to 5 On Your Side earlier in June, demanding justice and expressing frustration, saying they had yet to receive answers more than a month after the crash.
Family members said Hall was an acquaintance of Langley's and picked her up to take her to work that afternoon, but she was killed in a rollover crash on Highway 159 before she could arrive.
The family said police initially told them the driver was under the influence, speeding, and driving recklessly when the crash happened.
Karlie's sister, Katie Langley, said Karlie was in the passenger seat of Hall's Ford Explorer when the crash happened and there were multiple 911 calls about the SUV speeding erratically down Highway 159.
"He almost hit another driver head on. She said she saw Karlie grab the wheel and veered the car away and that was the last thing she saw before that car went airborne and flipped on its hood. But she told me Karlie saved her life and she saw it all," Langley said.
Swansea Police Deputy Chief Keith Howard said it was a very complex investigation which was the reason it took nearly two months to bring these charges.
"It's a very complex investigation with multiple agencies assisting us including the state police. We have the state attorney's office here in Illinois, along with St. Louis, that we're working back and forth with. So we believe in conducting a thorough investigation. We want this case to proceed through the court proceedings and have no issues," Deputy Chief Howard said.
Karlie's best friend Taylor Pruett said this is the beginning of the road to justice for Karlie.
"I had 'Honk! Justice for Karlie' written on the back of my car. And right after I got the news, it just started downpouring and rinsed off. and it just felt like it was just like a clean start to closure," Pruett said.
Karlie left behind a 3-year-old son named Ryett. The boy's father, Mark Benedick, told 5 On Your Side it was heartbreaking to see him still searching for his mom.
“I've already sat down and told him that mom's not coming back. But I'll have to have that conversation a few more times,” Benedick said.
Benedick said he's relieved now that Hall is facing charges but it won't bring Karlie back.
"He stole our future, the future with his mother. I grew up without really having a mom, so I wanted anything but that for him and now he doesn't have a choice because of some careless actions," Benedick said.
Hall was taken into custody and booked at the St. Clair County Jail, where he remained held Tuesday, the Swansea Police Department said.
He is scheduled to be in court at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.