EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) _ A southwestern Illinois man faces up to 14 years in prison now that he’s admitted in court that he was driving drunk when his sport utility vehicle hit a house, killing a widower inside.
The Alton Telegraph reports 26-year-old Jacob Fickle of Godfrey pleaded guilty Wednesday in Madison County to a felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol, causing death.
Prosecutors dropped four other counts, along with 10 unrelated felony theft charges.
Investigators say Fickle caused a disturbance in January 2013 at a Godfrey home and fled in a relative’s GMC Yukon after authorities were called.
The SUV then crashed into Marlin Bushnell’s home, fatally pinning 73-year-old Bushnell under the wreckage. Fickle then ran from the scene before being arrested a short time later outside a tavern.
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Information from: The Telegraph, http://www.thetelegraph.com