BELLEVILLE, Ill. – An Illinois state trooper was sending and getting e-mails and talking by cell phone to his girlfriend moments before his patrol car slammed into an oncoming car on a southwestern Illinois freeway, killing two sisters.
That's according to documents released in a civil lawsuit against Trooper Matt Mitchell.
He's being sued by Kelly and Christine Marler of Fayetteville, Ark., who survived the November 2007 crash on Interstate 64.
Authorities have said Mitchell was driving his patrol car more than 100 miles per hour when it went out of control, crossed the median and slammed into a car occupied by 18-year-old Jessica Uhl and 13-year-old Kelli Uhl of Collinsville.
Mitchell's car then hit the Marlers' vehicle. He's charged with reckless homicide and reckless driving.
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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com
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