Reckless Homicide and Aggravated DUI Charges Filed in Death of Alton, Illinois Bicyclist

Photo of Carol Alton from RiverBender.com

News outlets are reporting that criminal charges have been filed in relation to the death of Carol Admire. Ms. Admire died as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck while bicycling by 21-year old Kajavion McCarvey of East Alton, Illinois. At the time of the collision, both Ms. Admire and the motorist were traveling southbound on Great River Road in Alton, Illinois. Alton is located 25 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River.

As the name suggest, Great River Road runs immediately alongside the Mississippi River. There is a wide shoulder on the road that is often utilized by bicyclists. At the time of the collision Ms. Admire was riding on the shoulder when the defendant motorist left his lane and struck the bicyclist. There is no information regarding whether McCarvey was also charged with lesser traffic violations for failing to stay in his lane and to provide Ms. Admire with a minimum of three feet of room when passing. Kajavion McCarvey was charged by the Jersey County State's Attorney's Office with one count of reckless homicide and a second count of aggravated driving under the influence (DUI).

According to reports on the nature of the criminal charges, the driving under the influence charge was due to the fact that toxicology reports showed that at the time of the crash that McCarvey had both marijuana and prescription Xanax in his system. The "aggravated" charge is added when a DUI results in severe bodily harm of death of another person. The reckless homicide charge stems from the fact that not only was McCarvey under the influence of narcotic substances, but the steering column on his 1990 truck was unstable and this caused the steering wheel to "float around" and result in a loss of control.

Family and friends of Carol Admire have petitioned local authorities to install a guardrail system along Great River Road that would serve as a protective barrier for bicyclists against motorists. The Wild Trak Bikes shop in Alton has also circulated a paper petition. Local bicyclists also participated in a 15 mile bike ride at the end of May to honor Carol Admire.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Carol Admire and everyone affected by this tragedy.

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.