Decatur Man Sentenced to 11 Years for DUI Accident

The Herald-Review has reported on the sentencing of a man in Decatur to 11 years in prison over his role in a DUI crash.

The drunk driver, Demetric J. DIxon, fled a crash that killed four passengers in his car. After his defense attorney negotiated a plea deal, the man plead guilty to one count of DUI.

In return, the court dismissed nine counts of aggravated driving under the influence involving death, four counts of causing an accident involving injury and death and four counts of failure to report an injury accident.

Decatur Police told the court that the crash happened on June 1. Dixon’s car ran a red light on Grand Avenue and North Water Street and hit a semi-truck.

Dixon fled the scene, but then was arrested after he showed up at Decatur Memorial Hospital for treatment. All four of the other passengers in the car died in the crash from severe head, neck, and torso trauma.

At the hospital, Dixon’s BAC was measured at 0.159, and was estimated to be 0.25 at the time of the crash. That’s over three times the legal limit of intoxication.

We hope that the families of the deceased victims can seek compensation from Dixon’s insurance company. To have their lives cut short by a drunk driver is a cruel insult to them.