Joseph Slattery, 25, of Mokena was charged with six counts of aggravated driving under the influence after a head-on crash just before 8:00 p.m. Sunday on U.S. 45 one-half mile south of south of Route 52. Joseph Slattery and Margaret Simon were each driving Chevy Cavaliers near Peotone when Slattery crossed the center line on U.S. 45 and killed two Rolling Meadows women, Margaret Simons, 72, and Suzanne Thomson, 92; and seriously injured a third person in Simons’ car. A 24-year-old woman and a 1-year-old boy were transported to Riverside Hospital in Kankakee with minor injuries. They were were treated and released.
Both women were pronounced dead at Provena St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee after the crash.
Joseph Slattery’s blood-alcohol level (BAC) was above .08 at the time of the crash. Slattery was also under the influence of an opiate, according to Will County state’s attorney spokesman Chuck Pelkie.
He is being held at the Will County jail in lieu of $350,000 bail, according to prosecutors.
Slattery was also cited for improper lane usage and driving without insurance. Court records indicate Slattery was cited for operating an uninsured vehicle in 2008 and was cited for driving on a suspended license in 2007.
Become a fan of the Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
