Felony charges filed in fatal Saline County crash

KBSI FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

GALATIA, Ill., (KBSI) – A Ridgway man faces felony charges following a crash earlier this month in Saline County that left one person dead and two others injured, Illinois State Police said.

The Saline County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Jacob C. Ahrens, 21, with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs involving death, both Class 2 felonies, and two counts of aggravated DUI involving personal injury, both Class 4 felonies.

Troopers said the crash happened about 1:58 a.m. Aug. 8 on Illinois 34, about one mile west of Harco Road near Galatia. Investigators said a Chevrolet Silverado was traveling southbound when it veered off the road and into a ditch.

The driver and one passenger were airlifted to a regional hospital with injuries. A second passenger, identified as Mattix T. Sandifer, 20, of Ridgway, was pronounced dead at the scene.