A 21-year-old Mt. Vernon man faces multiple charges after driving at a high rate of speed the wrong way on South Poplar Street in Centralia early Sunday morning before crashing into another vehicle at 17th Street.
Zymer James was arrested for failure to report an injury crash, aggravated fleeing police over 21 miles per hour, speeding 35 plus miles per hour, reckless driving, unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver, driving with a suspended license, operating an uninsured vehicle, and multiple traffic violations.
James was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and later airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital. The driver of the other car was 24-year-old Makenna Burnes of Randolph Drive in Centralia. There were two passengers. 40- year-old Denise Sharkey of North Maple in Centralia and 26-year-old Roshida Thomas of Wright Drive in Centralia. All three were taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, with Sharkey later airlifted to a St. Louis hospital for treatment.
Centralia Police Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says they initially started following the vehicle at Broadway and Elm because it was driving recklessly. The suspect car continued eastbound to Lincoln and then eastbound on Calumet. It then began traveling at a high rate of speed. At that point, the officer turned on his lights and attempted a traffic stop. But the vehicle turned off its lights and continued south on Airport Road to Walnut Hill Road. An effort to stop the vehicle with stop sticks on Walnut Hill Road and US 51 was unsuccessful. The car then entered South Poplar driving the wrong way. At that point police ended the chase and followed alongside on Elm Street. The crash at Poplar and 17th occurred moments later.
The incident began unfolding at 3:30 Sunday morning. Centralia Fire and Lifestar Ambulance were called to assist those involved.
