RICHLAND CO.—A man whose old DUI charge could be one of the longest unaddressed in Richland County history has been charged with yet another, this one following a wreck that lead to the death of a young Olney man.
Gerald Foster, 61, of Noble, was cited on an arresting charge of DUI following an early-morning wreck on Saturday, May 16 that took the life of an Olney teen, Brandon Blackford, 19.
The citation, which hadn’t made it through to the court system as of press time (May 25) and therefore couldn’t be viewed, has many wondering just what’s going on with Foster that he’s receiving such preferential treatment as just a simple DUI citation when a death was involved, as well as why it’s taking eight years to litigate an identical charge in 2007…which by all accounts should have been dismissed after “want of prosecution,” but for whatever reason, is not.
That’s the mystery as it surrounds Foster, and perhaps the only person who’s fully aware of the what and the why is prosecutor David Hyde, who isn’t talking about the situation.
Nevertheless, friends and family of young Blackford are wondering if anything meaningful is going to be done, considering that Richland seems awash lately in DUI counts, including two others that occurred in the evening hours before the Foster/Blackford collision…and which were the reason Foster was out at that time of night to begin with.
Collision on the main drag
Illinois State Police worked both accidents, the first being a collision in Olney that occurred on Illinois 130 (West Street) at Wayne late Friday, May 15, at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Authorities say that a freightliner tractor-trailer combination, driven by Jesus Cavazos, 27, of San Juan, Texas, was on Rte. 130 backing into an area, southbound onto Wayne Street.
At the same time Sandra Giles, of Olney was southbound on Rte. 130 and didn’t see that the roadway was blocked and subsequently drove her vehicle beneath the trailer Cavazos was pulling.
While police say Giles was cited for DUI Alcohol, Cavazos was cited for Unlawful Possession of Alcohol, Improper Backing, Improper Lane Usage and having False Reports on his operating log.
Fosters responds
Authorities say that Foster, owner-operator of Foster’s Towing in the Noble area of Richland County, was called to the scene to remove at least one of the vehicles, which took until the early morning hours of Saturday, May 16.
Upon concluding the Olney towing process, Foster headed back out to the Noble area.
Illinois State Police reports then indicate that 19-year-old Brandon L. Blackford, of Olney, was driving a Yamaha ATV eastbound one mile west of Noble on U.S. 50 in the area of Richland CR 300E at approximately 2:13 a.m.
The same report indicates that at the same time Foster was traveling westbound on U.S. 50 in the same area of Richland CR 300E in a 2008 Chevrolet.
A preliminary investigation indicated that Foster was driving west in the eastbound lane in an apparent attempt to execute a left/south turn onto CR 300E when his vehicle collided with the ATV Blackford was driving.
Foster charged with DUI
The teen was transported from the scene to Richland Memorial Hospital and later to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Ind., where he later died from his injuries.
ISP authorities confirmed that Foster was cited for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.
Relatives of Blackford have expressed some concern about the handling of the case by State’s Attorney David Hyde, as none of the DUIs from May 15 or 16 have been filed as of yet, this including not only Foster’s, but Giles’ and Cavazos’ as well.
The fact that Foster had a 2001 DUI dismissed in 2003 and that a 2007 DUI is still pending is raising questions as to why.
If Hyde stays true to form, there will be no answers come out of his office and the family may be left to seek justice through the civil court in the form of a lawsuit, quite possibly involving the county as well as Foster.