Man charged in crash that left 3 children dead on I-70 in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS • A man who was allegedly drunk and driving an SUV he knew had mechanical problems has been charged in the deaths of three children who were killed when the vehicle crashed on Interstate 70 exit ramp in 2017.

Eric O’Neal Williams, 25, was charged Wednesday with three counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Court documents allege that Williams was driving 59 to 68 mph in his 1999 Ford Explorer when he left I-70 at the Tucker Boulevard ramp just north of downtown on Aug. 10, 2017. The SUV overturned and three children who were inside died after being ejected

Danzel Cosey, 11, was found dead at the scene. Lamont Davis, 10, and Eric Williams, 3, died later at hospitals, according to a Missouri Highway Patrol crash report. None of the children were in restraints at the time of the crash, police said.

Williams told police that the SUV had “a history mechanical difficulties” and an investigation found one front tire had dry-rot and both front wheels were missing a lug nut, the court documents say.

He also told police that he had drank three beers before the crash. His breath tested positive for alcohol 90 minutes after the crash, the documents say.

Williams’ bail was set at $150,000 cash only. Williams lives in the 1200 block of Prigge Avenue in north St. Louis County. He was not in custody Friday.

If you or a loved one have suffered accident injuries in a car accident caused by one these reckless drivers, call Northland Injury Law at 816-400-4878 to speak to a Missouri automobile accident lawyer today for help in recovering the compensation you need. An experienced personal injury attorney can ease some of the burden by engaging in fact-finding, gathering the necessary documentation, and crafting concise and thorough demands for settlement of your claim.