The incident occurred Aug. 11 when Schidecker drove her white 2002 Ford Explorer north in the southbound lanes of the interstate near milepost 57 in Harrison Twp. The incident injured five people, including Schidecker, and resulted in the death of Chereece Rule 39, of Kansas City, Mo.
“(Schidecker) is not in custody at this time,” Flannagan said.
Troopers with the Dayton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol handled the crash investigation and determined that Schidecker had a blood-alcohol content that was nearly three times the legal limit.
The OSP crash report does not indicate how Schidecker’s vehicle ended up traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-75. The accidents started right before midnight when her Explorer hit a 2002 Chevy Blazer head on, forcing the Blazer into a tractor-trailer. The impact caused the driver of the Blazer to be partially ejected. The Blazer then became trapped under the tractor-trailer and was dragged down the roadway before bursting into flames.
The Explorer also struck a black Kia Sentra head on, causing the two vehicles to rotate and the Sentra to get hit on the right side by a van.
Besides Schidecker, there were eight people involved in the crashes. All those injured, including Schidecker, were taken to Miami Valley Hospital.
Passersby were able to pull the Blazer’s driver from the vehicle. He later was identified as David Wilson, 37, of Kansas City, Mo. He was treated and released from the hospital.
Rule was a passenger in the Blazer and was trapped inside. She died at the scene.
“It took awhile for the charges. It’s still is not going to bring Chereece back,” Wilson said. “It’s just not fair that Chereece’s kids and grandkids don’t have her. I just feel so bad for her family. I hope that justice is served.”
Schidecker was transported to the hospital to be treated for injuries to her face and head.
“We were never able to pinpoint exactly where she was coming from,” said Lt. Mark Nichols, commander of OSP’s Dayton Post.
When a trooper asked her how the crash occurred, she replied, “I don’t know anything,” according to the crash report. She also told the trooper that she had been at a friend’s home prior to the accident. When asked if she consumed alcohol, she said, “I don’t remember anything after that.”
Schidecker’s attorney, Dennis Lieberman, declined to comment about the case.
Schidecker’s blood-alcohol level was 0.236 after the wreck.
The legal drinking age in Ohio is 21. Adults with a BAC of .08 percent or more are considered to be legally drunk.
When asked if there was any lesson to be learned from this incident, Nichols said, “Unfortunately, it’s the same lesson we learn in every alcohol-related fatality – don’t drink and drive.”
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