Man arraigned after fatal crash involving roommate
URBANA — An Urbana man has been charged in connection with the death of his roommate earlier this week. William D. Crouch, 47, of the 1000 block of East Water Street, was arraigned Wednesday for failure to report an accident involving death and aggravated driving under the influence for causing the death of Charles Moody on Monday night.
Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said an autopsy done Tuesday revealed Mr. Moody, 39, died of multiple blunt force injuries that he sustained from being run over by a mini-van. Besides a skull fracture, Mr. Moody had multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung and other internal injuries, the coroner said.
Assistant State's Attorney Chris Kanis said the DUI charge, a Class 2 felony, carries penalties ranging from three to 14 years in prison, while the leaving the scene of an accident charge is a Class 1 felony carrying penalties ranging from probation to four to 15 years in prison.
Although Champaign County sheriff's deputies initially arrested Crouch for reckless homicide, Kanis pointed out that reckless homicide is a less serious offense with penalties ranging from probation to two to five years in prison, which is why he didn't file that charge.
Sheriff's Lt. Ed Ogle said witnesses said Crouch, Mr. Moody and two others were in a mini-van in northeast Urbana when Crouch and Mr. Moody began arguing. The van stopped on Captiva Street near Illini Airport Road about 10:10 p.m.
"According to witness accounts, Crouch said he was going to run over Mr. Moody. He then did so with Mr. Moody's van," Ogle said.
Crouch then left, telling the other man to get in the van and leave with him, which he did. Crouch's son ran away and contacted deputies, who went to the accident scene and later located Crouch at his home.
Ogle said the men had been drinking.
"Failure to report an accident..."? Doesn't sound like it was an accident. He said he was going to do it, then did it. Why not a murder charge?
really premeditative murder charge.
YOU know you are right and I agree 100%. It was murder sad to say but no matter how you look at it IT WAS MURDER.
I would appreciate it if all of you who have commented about William D. Crouch would stop. Beacause none of us was there. No one person has the right to judge the life of another except God. If he goes to prison for more than 15 years he will die in prison how many of you guys would sleep at night knowing you killed an old man who always kept to himself and never hurt nobody until now is one wrong enough to convict a man to death, if so then we should all be hanged. Thank You...
you know the funny thing is is that you want to say he never hurt anybody till now. LOL thats a load of bull. Have you looked at is record lol . Who ever you are you must not have known him like I have until you look him up and do some research on someone. Dont ever make a comment about some one that you either dont know or dont know that facts on. Thanks
FROM:
what he missed out on
and when I say record i mean talk to his kids , ex wife , ex mother and father inlaw and look up his police record that will tell what kind of man he really was.
you know I have something else to say about the comment about (If he goes to prison for more than 15 years he will die in prison how many of you guys would sleep at night knowing you killed an old man) I would not feel guilty at all for sending a man to prison for the rest of his life for murder FACE IT it was MURDER. like I have said before not matter how you look at it it was murder. He said he was going to run him over then did so. That is MURDER. O and about ( how many of you guys would sleep at night) I would heck make me the judge.
you people that are putting all these negative comments need to quit. the only people who know what really happened is the men who were there. also you all fail to realize that these men weren't just rommates they were best friends for years butch never would have intentionally hurt chuck he loved him like a brother. we have all done or most of us have done some really stupid things when we have been drunk so for respect of both families why dont you chill out.
thanks
oh and to the butchdefenseteam.....thanks
No problem. I know them both.
Fortunately, the State's Attorney recognizes that crimes may still be prosecuted despite the fact that you are drunk at the time. I love my brother but I wouldn't drive over him in a van.
So this comment is for the one that wants to say that we need to stop making negative comments. Well on that note i do agree to a point but what the heck I will do so anyways listen to me very closly when I say this yes you are right the only people that knows what happend is the peoplke that where there BUT where you there? Here let me answer that for you NOOOOO. do you have the inside story probly not. Do I yes so I am and will say anything I want about this CRIME. Your right they where best friends and yes people do make stupid decisions BUT that is not a stupid decision that is a Crazy decision and someone that can do something like that needs to be off the street. Yes I have made stupid decisions before and regret some but when you hit some one with a van and then leave that is a choice and if he cared enough for him like you say he did then first he wouldnt have killed him to begin with but he would have got out of the van and seen if he was ok not take off and leave him like he was just a piece of dirt on the ground. I dont know why you want us to chill out on all this A MAN WAS MURDERED and you want us to chill out thats wrong you miught as well be convicted with him . I do feel for both families I really do and wish this did not happen trust me I knew them both. And itsz a shame that s a great guy lost his life. But what is done is done and some needs to stand up grab some balls and take responsibility for the fact That he just MURDERED his Best friend. WELL i guess I will let you all just sit on your hands and ponder about the truth. and if any one has qeustions about all this please feel free and ask me but i probably am going to tell you something you dont want to hear so please remember that befor eyou ask me. Until next time GOOD Bye :)
The booze might have been responsible for running the man over. But leaving him there to die is unforgiveable. Save your bleeding hearts for his sentencing hearing. Crouch has it coming.
the booze prob had alittle to do with running him over but yes leaving him to die is an insane act you are right the law is the law and we all shall sit and wait
How many criminal cases involve the defendant being drunk at the time the crime was committed? It's a reality that in the state of Illinois, intoxication on alcohol is not a defense.
I have to agree with those that say it is murder- I know I wasn't there and only those that were know what really happened. But wasn't the son there? And he told police that his father said he was going to run over the other man and he did. So, unless the son was lying... Also, to the person that said if he goes to prison for 15 years he will die in prison - he would be in his 60's - so unless he has health issues that are not mentioned there is a good chance that he would see light of day again for quite some time. Mr. Moody on the other hand will not. If he had accidentally run over Mr. Moody and the comment had never been made that he said he was going to do it - this would be a whole different conversation...
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