Man Charged With Drunk Driving In July 4th Crash That Killed Wife
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A northwest Indiana man faces eight felony charges and four misdemeanors for the July 4 accident that killed his wife.
The highest felony charges against Dwayne Johnson, 67, are two Level 4 felonies, which carry sentences of two to 12 years.
The first is for operating under the influence with a blood alcohol level of at least .15, and the second is for operating under the influence with a blood alcohol level of at least .08.
Based on a blood test taken at the hospital after police got a warrant, Johnson had a blood alcohol level of .17.
The accident happened about 9:44 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 30 and County Road 250 West in Center Township, Ind.
Johnson allegedly disregarded a red traffic light and drove his northbound white Lincoln Towncar into a blue Chevy HHR SUV going east on U.S. 30.
A witness behind Johnson said he was swerving.
Emergency workers took Johnson to St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart, Ind., and his wife, Theresa Johnson, 66, to Porter Regional Hospital.
She was unconscious when police arrived and died at the hospital while police still were at the scene investigating the crash.
A woman in the SUV Johnson hit had severe injuries and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Her children, 5 and 1, were in child safety seats in the back seat, and one had a scratch on the neck and cut on the thigh.
Her husband refused treatment to his injured leg.
Johnson was not in Porter County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon. No date has been set for his initial hearing.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)