Trisia A. Jones, the driver in the summer accident that killed Eastern student Sheila Sue Henson, is facing felony charges for her involvement in the accident.

Coles County Circuit Court records show Assistant State’s Attorney Duane Deters filed charges Sept. 15 in response to the June 20 accident.

Jones is being charged with two counts of reckless homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol.

The filings state Jones “committed the offense of reckless homicide in that said defendant, while acting in a reckless manner, performed acts likely to cause the death of or great bodily harm to some individual…”

The first count specifies driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.08 percent and driving “at a speed which was greater than was reasonable and proper with regard to the existing traffic conditions,” was cause for reckless homicide.

Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol “to such an extent to render (Jones) incapable of safely driving,” comprised the second count’s specifications.

According to the court records, previous convictions on May 17, 2002, changed misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a revoked license charges to felony charges.

State statutes show reckless homicide charges carry possible three-year to 14-year imprisonment, while other felony charges each carry one to three year terms.

A warrant for arrest was issued to the sheriff’s department Sept. 16.

Jones’ bond was set at $50,000 with special conditions, which specify the “defendant to be released on recognizance, subject to electronic-monitored home confinement.”

On Sept. 11, a Champaign County Coroner’s jury declared Henson’s death a homicide.

During the inquest, Coles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Sgt. Tad Freezeland testified in regard to the June 20 accident’s events.

Jones reportedly was driving westbound on Illinois Route 316 when she drove the vehicle off the road and struck a tree.

“Officer Williamson did a test for blood alcohol content,” Freezeland said. “Her blood alcohol content was 0.22 percent. Miss Jones had the presence of cocaine in her system.”

Henson was pronounced dead the following morning at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Deputy Coroner Bill Fabian cited “traumatic head injuries” sustained in the accident as the cause of death.

Deters, who did not responded to The Daily Eastern News ‘ attempts to contact him, was quoted in last week’s Charleston Times-Courier, and said the injuries Jones received, further accident investigation and the wait for “other documents” are responsible for the delayed filing.

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].