Times-Tribune staff
An Edwardsville man has been charged with felony driving-while-intoxicated offenses resulting in death following a crash Monday near Collinsville which claimed the life of two people.
Cole Wendler
Madison County state’s attorneys have charged 23-year-old Cole Wendler, also of Edwardsville, with two counts of aggravated driving with a blood alcohol level of over .08 and two counts of aggravated driving under the influence causing death.
Associate Circuit Judge Ronald Selmer set bond at $500,000. Court records show Wendler on Wednesday posted $50,000 cash to secure his release pending trial. A preliminary hearing had not been set at press time.
According to Illinois State Police, the crash happened about 1:41 a.m. Monday near milepost 15 on Interstate-55 southbound. A black Chevrolet sedan allegedly driven by Wendler struck the rear of a Jeep SUV, causing the SUV to overturn.
The driver and passenger in the Jeep SUV were both ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.
