The Weekly Post public record for 2-2-23

 Published Date: February 7, 2023

NOTE: Charges are merely an accusation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Galesburg woman killed in Interstate 74 collision
• BRIMFIELD – A Galesburg woman was killed when her vehicle collided with a Princeville man’s semi-trailer truck on Interstate 74 east of Brimfield.

Amanda Matuszyk, 42, probably died instantly, according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood. The accident happened about 6:30 a.m. Jan. 26 on the eastbound interstate near Schlink Road.

Matuszyk was driving a 2007 tan Ford Fusion and the 74-year-old Princeville resident, who otherwise was unidentified, was driving a 2000 purple Kenworth, according to Illinois State Police.

Matuszyk was changing lanes, from the left to the right, in front of the truck when she lost control of her vehicle.

The Fusion ran off the right side of the road, then veered left before it struck the truck, which was unable to stop. Matuszyk’s vehicle came to rest in the median. Matuszyk was transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The truck driver was uninjured.

According to Harwood, Matuszyk was on her way to work at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She received multiple blunt-force-trauma injuries. The accident closed I-74 traffic for more than two hours.

Police reports
• KICKAPOO – A man was arrested in connection with an alleged domestic-battery incident at a residence west of Kickapoo.
A Peoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy was summoned about 9:30 a.m. Jan. 22 to the 11700 block of W. Hickory Springs Drive. There the deputy found Donald J. Wozniak and a woman who complained about head pain and had multiple bruises on her left leg. Wozniak’s nose and lips also had minor lacerations.
Accounts differ and alcohol was involved, according to a sheriff’s-office report, but Wozniak was transported to the Peoria County Jail. An ambulance transported the victim to UnityPoint Health-Methodist in Peoria, where she was evaluated and treated.
• HANNA CITY – A Mapleton man was transported to a Peoria hospital after a two-vehicle head-on collision east of Hanna City.
Anthony V. Kemper was driving an eastbound 2022 Chevrolet Malibu shortly before 1 p.m. Jan. 22 in the 11000 block of W. Farmington Rd. when it veered into the westbound lane and struck a 2008 Ford Edge, a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report stated. The driver was Wesley N. Staley of Hanna City.
Kemper said he looked down at the GPS application on his cellphone while he was driving, according to the report. An ambulance transported Kemper to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, where he was treated for an injured collarbone and a leg abrasion.
Staley said he attempted to stop to avoid the collision. He reported no injuries, but his vehicle sustained disabling front-end damage. Both vehicles were towed. Kemper was cited for improper lane use.
• FARMINGTON – An Elmwood woman admitted to not having a valid driver’s license when Farmington police stopped her for a headlight violation, according to authorities.
Alexandria J. Dowds, 27, was driving a 2018 Ford Focus when she was stopped about 4:15 p.m. Jan. 18 at Cone and Pearl streets. The Farmington officer noticed one of the vehicle’s headlights wasn’t on, according to a police report.
Dowds was cited for operating a vehicle with no insurance; driving on a suspended, revoked or canceled license; improper vehicle lighting; and operating a vehicle with a canceled, suspended or revoked registration. The Focus was towed.
• DAHINDA – No injuries were reported after a Dahinda driver’s vehicle struck another as the man tried to back out of a driveway.
The incident happened about 3 p.m. Jan. 8 in the 1900 block of Knox Road 1400 North. Richard Staker, 75, was backing a 2020 Ford Edge when it struck a parked 2009 Toyota 4Runner owned by a Chillicothe man, according to a Knox County Sheriff’s Office report.
The Edge sustained more than $1,500 in damage to its rear tailgate and adjacent chrome.
• EDWARDS – At 11:30 p.m. Jan. 13, Rosario C. Hernandez of Lubbock, Texas, was driving a southbound 2017 Chevrolet Silverado in the 300 block of N. Taylor Rd. south of Edwards when the vehicle struck a deer. The impact detached the vehicle’s grille and driver’s-side headlight and caused more than $1,500 in damage, according to a Peoria County Sheriff’s Office report. The deer was found dead along the road.
• PRINCEVILLE – Collin M. Hause, 25, of Princeville was arrested about 4:45 p.m. Jan. 29 and accused of criminal damage to property/less than $500, aggravated assault and criminal trespass to land, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.
• YATES CITY – Patrick E. Swartz, 57, of Yates City was arrested at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 and was being held for the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.
• ELMWOOD – Noah D. Sorensen, 25, of Elmwood was arrested shortly before 1 p.m. Jan. 25 and was being held for another law-enforcement agency, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.
• BRIMFIELD – Rohman Mitchell, 18, of Brimfield was arrested shortly before 8:30 p.m. Jan. 24 and accused of cyberstalking/electronic threat, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.
• DAHINDA – Jay A. Yerkey, 57, of Dahinda was arrested about 11:45 a.m. Jan. 23 and was being held for another law-enforcement agency, according to the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.