Jefferson County Coroner Roger Hayse has released the name of the 62-year-old Mt. Vernon man who was killed Tuesday afternoon when struck and run over by a pickup truck.
The man is Thomas Taylor who was working on a vehicle in an alleyway off the 2800 block of Veterans Memorial Drive near his home. Hayse says an autopsy was completed Wednesday with a tentative cause of death being from multiple organ damage due to blunt force trauma.
Mt. Vernon Police have arrested 45-year-old Robert Lewis on an initial charge of reckless homicide in connection with the death. Police say Lewis and Taylor had a verbal argument where both of their vehicles were damaged before Lewis drove off and allegedly struck Taylor.
Taylor was treated at the scene by medical personnel and officers before being transferred to a local hospital where he later died.
Police say Lewis arrived at the police station a short time after the accident driving the truck that was reportedly involved.
Mt. Vernon Police Detectives, a Mt. Vernon Police Crime Scene Technician and an accident reconstructionist team from Illinois State Police were all called to investigate the incident.
Mt. Vernon Police with assistance from the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s office obtained a search warrant to secure blood and urine samples from Lewis. The samples will be taken to the Illinois State Crime Lab for analysis. Police say charges may change as the investigation continues and the analysis of evidence reports return.
The incident was first reported to police at 4:32 Tuesday afternoon.
