Spring Break
Strong suspicion of alcohol in crash
Emily Zulz / Associate News Editor
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: News
Authorities believe alcohol may have been involved in the crash that killed three Eastern students early Saturday morning near St. Louis.
"We have a strong suspicion that this was an alcohol-involved crash, and that (the driver) was drinking beforehand," said Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Christine L. Miller, 41, a suburban police officer from Kirkwood, Mo., was driving the wrong way down Dougherty Ferry Road while off-duty when her 2001 Mitsubishi struck the 1997 Honda Accord with the Eastern students and two other people inside.
Nothum said it is believed the Honda was attempting to make a right turn when Miller's car hit the right side.
"It was a real simple crash," Nothum said.
Eastern international students Anusha Anumolu, Anitha Lakshmi Veerapaneni and Priya Darshini Muppavarapu, and Veerapaneni's cousin Satya Chinta, of Aurora, Ill., were killed instantly.
Netish Adusumilli, the driver of the Honda, and Miller were transported to St. John's Medical Center in Creve Coeur, Mo.
Adusumilli is still in serious condition, Nothum said.
The crash is still under investigation, and results of toxicology tests are not yet known.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported it could be several weeks before the investigation is complete and decisions are made on whether to charge Miller with a crime.
The four bodies will be transported back to India by this weekend.
The cost to do so is about $60,000.
Donations are being collected by an organization in St. Louis, the Telugu Association of North America. Online donations can be made by clicking here.
Vicki Woodard, at the Office of University Marketing and Communication, said the campus community has already made donations through the link.
She said individuals are working in collaboration with the organization, but the university as an entity cannot make a donation.
"The university funds can't be used for things like this," Woodard said. "We can't as a university give tax money for this."
Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.
"We have a strong suspicion that this was an alcohol-involved crash, and that (the driver) was drinking beforehand," said Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Christine L. Miller, 41, a suburban police officer from Kirkwood, Mo., was driving the wrong way down Dougherty Ferry Road while off-duty when her 2001 Mitsubishi struck the 1997 Honda Accord with the Eastern students and two other people inside.
Nothum said it is believed the Honda was attempting to make a right turn when Miller's car hit the right side.
"It was a real simple crash," Nothum said.
Eastern international students Anusha Anumolu, Anitha Lakshmi Veerapaneni and Priya Darshini Muppavarapu, and Veerapaneni's cousin Satya Chinta, of Aurora, Ill., were killed instantly.
Netish Adusumilli, the driver of the Honda, and Miller were transported to St. John's Medical Center in Creve Coeur, Mo.
Adusumilli is still in serious condition, Nothum said.
The crash is still under investigation, and results of toxicology tests are not yet known.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported it could be several weeks before the investigation is complete and decisions are made on whether to charge Miller with a crime.
The four bodies will be transported back to India by this weekend.
The cost to do so is about $60,000.
Donations are being collected by an organization in St. Louis, the Telugu Association of North America. Online donations can be made by clicking here.
Vicki Woodard, at the Office of University Marketing and Communication, said the campus community has already made donations through the link.
She said individuals are working in collaboration with the organization, but the university as an entity cannot make a donation.
"The university funds can't be used for things like this," Woodard said. "We can't as a university give tax money for this."
Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Angela
posted 3/25/09 @ 10:44 PM CST
"It was a real simple crash..." Yet three people "were killed instantly"...?! How could toxicology tests still not be known; I would hope they got their blood count as soon as they arrived at the scene! It's funny how the driver who causes the crash always seem to be able to walk away yet those who were innocent lose their lives. (Continued…)
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