WABASH/EDWARDS Cos. - A high-speed chase from Wabash County into Edwards County at the end of October resulted in the arrest of a Lawrence County woman and a Mt. Carmel man, the latter of whom was already hemmed up in Lawrence for a similar infraction.
The situation emerged October 23 at approximately 11:37 P.M. when a Wabash County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a 2001 white Chevrolet passenger car for a traffic violation in the area of 4th and Division in Mt. Carmel.
The vehicle failed to stop, and increased its speed, heading southbound on Illinois Route 1, driving all over the roadway. A southbound semi had slowed and pulled into the middle of the road as the white Chevrolet and Sheriff’s Deputy approached him. The Chevrolet drove onto the shoulder of the road on the left, passing the semi and trailer.
The deputy requested assistance from the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office and Grayville Police Department. The pursuit continued into Edwards County, where the Edwards County Deputy and Grayville Police Officer were waiting to deploy stop sticks.
The stop sticks were deployed successfully approximately a half-mile north of Grayville, causing the Chevrolet to slow and run off the roadway into a field.
The driver, Jessica L. Aten, 28 and a well-known Lawrenceville crim, was taken into custody and charged with DUI-Alcohol, Speeding 110 mph in a 55 mph zone, Aggravated Fleeing, Aggravated Reckless Driving, Disobeying a Traffic Control Device and Improper Lane Usage
The passenger was identified as Austin T. Wiggins, 31, of Mt. Carmel. Wiggins was cited for Illegal Transportation of Alcohol and taken into custody on an outstanding warrant in Lawrence County for a charge of Escape. Both Aten and Wiggins were housed at the Wabash County Jail until the posting of bond; for Aten, that was on November 20; for Wiggins, court documents show that that hadn’t happened as of press time. He had both been scheduled for a court appearance on December 22; Aten will have already made hers by the, as she’s scheduled for Dec. 14.