Today a judge handed down the maximum sentence to a truck driver who ran a red light while high on crack, killing a woman.
St. Clair County Circuit Judge Robert Haida sentenced Georgia-based truck driver Orlando V. Luke to fourteen years in prison after he was found guilty on charges of reckless homicide and aggravated driving while under the influence.
Orlando V. Luke was found guilty by a jury of aggravated driving under the influence and reckless homicide in the death of Cheryl Culver. @bhundsdorfer reports.https://t.co/3HU00nLVFQ
— Heidi Wiechert (@BND_HeidiW) January 19, 2018
Domestic Disturbance, Crack, Red Light Running, Contribute To Motorist’s Death
The crash happened on U.S. 50 near O’Fallon, Illinois, around 9:30 p.m. on November 8, 2016. According to reports, a female passenger jumped out of Luke’s truck following a dispute. Though police received several calls about the domestic disturbance and Luke’s speeding semi, by the time that they arrived on the scene, Luke had run a red light and crashed into four cars.
One of the motorists, 67 year old Cheryl Culver, was killed in the crash. Four other people, including the woman who jumped out of the truck, were injured during the incident.
Luke tested positive for crack after the crash.
Luke was driving for Georgia-based trucking company LF XPress Inc. at the time of the fatal crash.
Driver Had History Of Crack Use, Run-ins With Law
This was not Luke’s first run-in with the law. In 1993, he led police on a 50 mile chase while in a passenger vehicle. After hitting speeds of 120 m.p.h., he barricaded himself in his car, smoked crack and threatening to shoot himself. He shot a Georgia state trooper before being taken into custody. He was convicted of speeding, driving on the wrong side of the road, reckless driving, cocaine possession, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, driving under the influence, aggravated assault and two counts of simple assault.