Lauren Wegner of Skokie was killed in a wrong-way crash on I-55 near Springfield, Illinois. Shane Jason Woods of Auburn is charged with first-degree murder.
Lauren Wegner, a resident of Skokie, tragically lost her life in a wrong-way collision on I-55 near Springfield, Illinois, on November 8th. Her parents revealed that she was en route to visit friends in St. Louis. Wegner had recently relocated to Skokie from North Carolina earlier in the year and had been residing with her parents since March. Bill Wegner, her father, had urged her to postpone the trip, expressing concerns about the approaching darkness.
He suggested they have dinner together instead. However, Wegner insisted on keeping her promise to her parents to go out with them on a later day. Sadly, she never made it to her destination.Her parents were awakened by an Illinois State Trooper in the early hours of the morning, conveying the devastating news of the accident. Evelyn Wegner, her mother, recounted the heartbreaking experience through tears. According to the Sangamon County State's Attorney's office, Shane Jason Woods of Auburn was responsible for the collision. Woods was driving his pickup truck northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 55, directly into the path of Wegner's car. The impact was catastrophic, resulting in Wegner's death.Woods, who had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and a cameraman during the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, now faces a first-degree murder charge in Illinois. This charge carries a potential sentence of 20 to 60 years in prison. The Wegner family expressed relief and gratitude that Woods is being held without bond and is facing such a serious charge. While it offers some solace, they acknowledge that it cannot bring their daughter back. 'When we got the call yesterday that it was murder one we were crying happy tears,' Evelyn Wegner stated. 'But it doesn't bring her back,' she emphasized
Wrong Way Driving Fatal Crash Murder Charge January 6Th Insurrection I-55 Springfield
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