A sad reminder that nookie while driving is dangerous
 

Driver guilty in connection with fatal crash during sex

By Jason M. Rodriguez, Staff writer

MONMOUTH -- A Galesburg man and his roommate likely were having sex when the car he was driving crossed the center line and struck an oncoming truck, killing the woman in a crash nearly 18 months ago, according to court testimony.

Sonny S. Morris Sr., 32, was found guilty Friday of aggravated driving under the influence in the accident that killed Christina Valerio on Jan. 17, 2002. A charge of reckless homicide was dropped.

Mr. Morris sat at the defendant's table, bouncing his knee and jerking his clasped hands off his thigh, as details of the incident were recounted during the daylong bench trial.

Witnesses testified Friday that they saw the 1990 Chevy Caprice driven by Mr. Morris sway on and off U.S. 34 and across the center line for up to nine miles between Biggsville, in Henderson County, and Kirkwood, in Warren County.

James Mueller, a truck driver for Sara Lee Bread Co., said he was driving his truck ``about 12 to 15 car lengths'' behind Mr. Morris because of ``erratic'' driving. He said the car would reach speeds of 60 to 65 mph, then drop to 30-35 miles per hour.

Mr. Mueller said he witnessed the Caprice crossing the centerline and smacking a 1999 Freightline truck nearly head on about 5:20 a.m., about four miles east of the Henderson County line.

What witnesses didn't see was what was happening inside the car.

According to testimony from Warren County Deputy Adam Hart, Mr. Morris was found outside of the Caprice, wearing a condom with his pants and underwear around his ankles. The steering wheel of the car was imbedded in Ms. Valerio's back, was naked from the waist down.

The two were driving from Scooters Cabaret, a strip club in Gladstone, Ill., to their home in Galesburg. The two were not dating, according to testimony, but had been living together with Mr. Morris' ex-wife.

Testimony indicated Mr. Morris' blood-alcohol content was .06 -- below the .08 legal limit for intoxication -- and there was THC, a component of cannabis, in his urine.

Mr. Morris' attorney, public defender Scott Shipplette, argued successfully that the state ``failed to establish, as required by statute, that the defendant was under the influence of cannabis that rendered him incapable of driving,'' said Circuit Judge Greg McClintock.

Judge McClintock granted Mr. Shipplette's motion for directed verdict on a reckless-homicide charge, and therefore it was dropped. He found Mr. Morris guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of cannabis.

Mr. Morris will remain in the Warren County Jail until his sentencing June

16.

Ms. Valerio's parents, Bill and Sue Christensen, said that as long as Mr.

Morris is punished, that was all they were looking for.

``As far as I'm concerned, he's going to at least pay some justice for what he did,'' Mr. Christensen said. ``Now the only thing is how many years he spends in jail.''

Lori Akers, who was present during the entire trial Friday, said Mr. Morris is the father of her two children. She said he has lost weight and lost memory, and that he seemed upset after the verdict was read.

``I think he's still kind of upset because they did not prove he smoked marijuana,'' she said. ``It could have been in his system from being around someone else who smoked.

``I feel for both sides.''


Staff writer Jason Rodriguez can

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Hopefully this won't keep my girlfriend from at leat trying...

pothead carfuckers

I'm not quite sure how the woman's parents think this is solely his fault. It's not like she was in another car that got hit. It not only takes two to tango, it takes two to get high and tango while driving a car. Chock it up to stupidity on both accounts.

Heh.

Take a quick look at where that guy is from, and then note my locaton.

Must be Springtime in Galesburg.

how was she? (I mean before she died.)

Re: A sad reminder that nookie while driving is dangerous
 

Who says they were having sex? He could have just been acting cocky and funny.

More cocky than funny.

Wow ....I dont think the prosecution had much of a case I mean I drive on the freeway wearing a condom with my pants and underwear around my ankles .

at least they were having safe sex

Oh, so they *were* wearing their seatbelts.

well, he had a lap restraint

And two airbags.

Funny, the first thing I thought was "hmm... Galesburg- I wonder if that's the same one as the Avengers and, if so, I hope CW is ok" ;)

SI

winner

That would not be a good way to die...

Sonny S. Morris Sr., 32, was found guilty Friday of aggravated driving under the influence in the accident that killed Christina Valerio on Jan. 17, 2002

Under the influence of what, an erection ???????

Re: A sad reminder that nookie while driving is dangerous
 

Scooter's Cabaret?!? That guy needs some serious marketing help. I mean, really, would you go to a place called Scooter's Cabaret? That sounds like going to something called Hawk's Bank, Whitey's Airport, or Pudge's Dentist Office.

SI

No doubt.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's going to at least pay some justice for what he did,'' Mr. Christensen said. Now the only thing is how many years he spends in jail.''

Poor helpless victim, eh?

The irony of these two practicing safe sex while swerving over into oncoming traffic on a major highway and changing speeds from 30 to 65 mph is too funny to pass up. I suspect this might be in the Darwin Awards sometime soon.

try having sex in broad daylight while driving through the mountains in Tennesse... thats fun... eventually had to pull over for a while at one of those inlets they have so i could ummmm stretch my legs.... and strangely, I was born in Galesburg IL... must be something about the water.

Yeah, I laughed when I saw where it was from.

GO SALUKIS!!!!

Gross, Fritz!

okay, I guess kinda funny too.

TCM