Charged in fatal crash

A Cahokia, Illinois man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after being involved in a local crash that killed his passenger on Sept. 18.

Larry Wallace, 46, is being charged with a class C felony of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree.

According to a probable cause statement, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper arrested Wallace for driving a UTV while intoxicated.

Wallace was driving eastbound on Office Road in the Goose Creek lake development on Sept. 18 at approximately  10:10 p.m. when he attempted to make a sharp left turn onto Bookholz Road, causing the UTV to overturn onto its right side and partially eject the passenger, Philip N. Campbell, 47, of East Carondelet, Illinois.

Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene by St. Francois County Coroner Jim Coplin. Campbell was not wearing a safety helmet at the time the accident occurred.

Wallace admitted to drinking most of the day, but denied being the driver. Evidence was gathered at the scene indicating Wallace was the driver.

The trooper reported that Wallace swayed during questioning and staggered while walking into the woods to relieve himself. His eyes were watery and glassy and he had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. A preliminary breath test was given and it came back positive for alcohol. A blood sample was also taken and sent to the crime lab for analysis.

Wallace was booked in the St. Francois County jail on a $50,000 bond.

Larry Wallace

Renee Bronaugh is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-518-3617 or rbronaugh@dailyjournalonline.com