Driver Arrested, Charged With DUI Following Head-On Collision Thursday
Updated: 8-25-20
By Leah Williams
A Mt. Vernon man has been arrested for aggravated driving under the influence and aggravated unlawful use of a cell phone after a head-on collision Thursday night in Nashville.
According to Nashville police, officers responded to the area of State Route 127, south of Richview Road at 5:49 p.m. for a two-vehicle accident. Police said Matthew Stanley, 33, was allegedly driving a pickup truck northbound in the southbound lane of traffic. Stanley’s vehicle then struck a southbound vehicle head-on, which was driven by Deidra Holzhauer, 21, of Nashville.
Holzhauer was airlifted from the scene and taken to a St. Louis hospital “due to the extent of her injuries,” police say. Stanley was taken to Washington County Hospital by ambulance for treatment of injuries and he was later discharged.
Stanley was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Police say he was subsequently charged with aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm, and aggravated unlawful use of an electric communication device and for improper lane usage.
The accident is also being investigated by the Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Team. Traffic was rerouted for more than two hours after the accident.
Other responding agencies include Washington County Ambulance Service, Nashville Fire Protection District and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Nashville police say more information will be released when it becomes available as the incident is still under investigation.
According to online court records, a complaint against Stanley has been filed in Washington County Court for driving under the influence. No court date has been set as of Monday, August 24. Two traffic charges for improper traffic lane usage and aggravated use of a communication device in an accident that caused great bodily harm were filed in Washington County Court, according to online court files Tuesday morning.
