Man charged in DUI incidents that injured two
URBANA — An Urbana man has been charged in connection with what police say was a drunken driving spree Saturday afternoon that injured two people.
Austin Way, 35, who listed an address in the 1700 block of Willow Court, is being held in the Champaign County jail on $250,000 bond after being charged Monday with aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence and failure to report an accident.
State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said shortly after 4 p.m., Lisa Brannan was crossing First Street at Gregory Drive in the crosswalk when she was struck by Way, who had run the stop sign.
Rietz said Way stopped to speak with Brannan, who sustained a bruised hip, and offered to give her money if she wouldn’t call police. He then got back in his Jeep and drove north.
About eight minutes later, Way was driving east on Country Club Road in northeast Urbana when he crossed the center line and hit a vehicle driven by Kelvin Ozier, 46, of Champaign, injuring him. Ozier was first taken to Provena Covenant Medical Center then transferred to Carle Foundation Hospital, where he was treated for a ruptured spleen, Rietz said.
Rietz said after striking Ozier’s vehicle, Way left the scene. Sheriff’s deputies found him and his damaged vehicle a short time later at his home. Brannan and a witness later identified Way as the only person in the vehicle that struck Brannan.
Way is due back in court April 27.









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