Police: Vodka, whiskey and pill bottles in van that crashed into Teutopolis bus

May 09--SULLIVAN -- An investigator testified Tuesday that he found a partially empty bottle of Nikolai vodka, an empty bottle of Southern Comfort whiskey and two pill bottles in the van that crashed into a bus carrying members of the Teutopolis High School basketball team in February.

Of the 31 students and three coaches in the bus, which wound up on its side, five students were taken to an area hospital with minor lacerations and scrapes.

Moultrie County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Mark Risley told a Moultrie County Judge that he talked to the van driver, Scarlett D. McKinzie, at the scene of the crash. Her voice was so slurred that he could only make out the word "Mattoon," Risley said.

McKinzie, 36, of Mattoon, has been charged with three felonies two misdemeanors and four citations related to the accident at about 3:20 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the intersection of Illinois Route 32 and Moultrie County Road 800 North.

Risley said McKinzie was at a stop sign, then "surged forward" and struck the bus behind the driver's seat. The turning bus continued forward, the rear wheel passing over the hood of McKinzie's van, Risley said.

McKinzie was taken to a hospital and Risley searched the van. He said one of the empty pill bottles contained a straw with white residue on it, while the other had her prescription medication. Blood and urine tests showed McKinzie had a blood alcohol content of .25 percent. It's illegal to drive in Illinois with a BAC exceeding .08 percent. She also tested for positive for cocaine, the sergeant said.

Risely said that when he spoke to McKinzie at the hospital, she was in a panic.

"She said 'I killed somebody,' and I said, 'No you didn't,'" Risley said.

Public Defender Marvin Hanson asked if it was possible there was another person in the car who was driving. Risley said the bus driver saw only one occupant.

The Teutopolis team missed its game that night, but beat Marshall 73 to 35 the next night.

McKinzie is charged with three counts of driving under the influence with no insurance, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, transporting alcohol while driving, failure to obey a stop sign and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

McKinzie, who did not testify on Tuesday, has been released after posting $1,000 of her $10,000 bond.

Graham Milldrum can be reached by phone at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or by email at graham.milldrum@effinghamdailynews.com

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