
A 31-year-old Gillespie man faces charges of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (class 2 felony), reckless homicide (class 3 felony), aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (class 4 felony) and aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol (class A misdemeanor).
Gillespie Police Department announced Monday afternoon that Tyler Semplowski, 31 of Gillespie, was arrested Friday evening after hitting a pedestrian.
The victim, John Cooper, 69 of Gillespie, was walking his dog around 10 p.m. Friday, April 24, near Adams Street in Gillespie when he was struck by Semplowski who police said was driving an all-terrain vehicle.
Police said they administered life-saving efforts on Cooper until Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service arrived and transported him to a hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Court records Monday evening also show Semplowski faces charges of operating an uninsured motor vehicle and operating a non-highway vehicle on a roadway.
Semplowski is being held at the Macoupin County Jail on a $75,000 bond with 10 percent applying. If convicted, he faces 3 to 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. A court date of June 18 has been assigned for the case.
Police reminded the public everyone is innocent unless the charges are proven in a court of law.