Three are injured in accident near Aviston

Three people were airlifted to St. Louis hospitals this morning after a head-on collision on Old U.S. 50 east of Schumacher Road near Aviston.

Judith A. Athmer, 55, of Albers, was listed in critical condition at St. Louis University Hospital after the vehicle her husband was driving collided with a vehicle driven by Eric B. Wright, 35, of Trenton, about 8:50 a.m., according to the Illinois State Police.

Thomas A. Athmer, 56, was taken to Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and Wright was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Breese before being airlifted to Barnes-Jewish later. Police said their injuries were 'not serious.' Read more

[friend of family]

An entire family is now suffering because of one person's stupidity.

[David]

Once again other person dies from person drinking and driving. This man should be held in jail for life.

[Julio]

David wrote:

Once again other person dies from person drinking and driving. This man should be held in jail for life.

If you only knew what a jerk this guy is you would feel even worse. The Coroner once called him in for DUI. He needs some prison time.

[Advice]

If you know background information about Mr. Wright, you should share it with the family's attorney.... because they need to sue to take care of Mr. Athmers.

[Quick to judge]

I know this guy too and he is a creep, BUT sometimes we don't know the whole story.....if you have EVER been intoxicated behind the wheel even once who are you to judge? Don't misunderstand...I think Eric should and will pay for his mistakes. My sympathy goes out to the Athmer family.

[DUI hater]

I knew of this guy as well, and he is a drunken loser. He's an 18 yr old who never changed, and alcohol was a top priority to him. He needs not only his license revoked, but also prison time. Probation will not change his ways.

[AF Trenton Il]

This guy needs to be put away for life. I know of him and he has a drinking and drug problem. I have not ever heard one good thing about him. He needs to pay for what he has done.

[Dont do it]

Look at Eric Wright's myspace page. I think it will tell the family enough. All of the pictures, EVERYTHING on that page revolves around drinking. EVERY PICTURE has drinking in it. YOU JUDGE. Even his quote has his phone number saying lets party anytime....so, Quick to judge, I was not so quick to judge, but this jerk deserves what he has coming.

[Tanner]

I've known Eric since I was a child. We grew up in the same town and went to the same school. He has been doing this since he could operate a car. He prides himself on how much of a worthless human being he can be. I know him very well and he will burn in hell for his deeds. Just this Halloween, he was at a local bar dressed as a Miami drug lord complete with a suitcase full of drugs. I only hope they put him in jail and throw away the key!!

[Sensible]

Julio wrote:

<quoted text>
If you only knew what a jerk this guy is you would feel even worse. The Coroner once called him in for DUI. He needs some prison time.

I understand the situation here better then any of you... All of you with your negative comments and your judgemental overview. Everyone wants to blame someone.
My deepest sympathy goes out to all that were involved in this accident. I'm so sorry for the loss that was incurred. Losing a loved one myself to a drunk driver, I know what its like. However, Eric is my friend. I will stand by him. All of those people out there, for years, that would sit back and laugh at him or encourage him to do the extreme for YOUR entertainment, maybe should have thought about the consequences...maybe someone should have offered him help instead of encouraging the negative.
Maybe someone could have saved this whole situation from happening...

[glb59]

Actions have consequences, the first rule of life. And the second rule is this - you are the only one responsible for your own actions. In reality, Mr. Wright was the only one responsible for his own actions. In the past, his friends and family may or may not have tried to modify his reckless behavior. If they did not, their silence was equal to their consent, thereby enabling his pathetic lifestyle. Ultimately he needed to make the decision on his own to stop acting in such an irresponsible manner. Now it is time that he be held accountable for his failure to do so.

Mr. Wright’s behavior proved to be life-changing and tragic for the Athmer family, whose lives will be forever overshadowed by the death of the one person who filled the role of mother, wife, grandmother, daughter and sister. In the end, her memory will live on in their hearts and serve to strengthen them in their loss. May Judy rest in peace.

Unfortunately, Mr. Wright is the kind of person who is incapable of thinking outside of his very small world, which, from the content of his website appears to revolve around one thing – his own self-gratification. While he may be temporarily incapacitated due to the accident, his character will not change. He will undoubtedly continue on a path of self-destruction. Let’s all hope he will not take the life of another innocent victim in the process.

The consequences for his actions? A maximum prison sentence as allowed by law. If in fact he already had a number of DUI convictions previous to the accident in which he took the life of Mrs. Athmer, then his new cellmate should be the court official who gave him back his driving privileges.

Those of us who have been touched by the loss of Judy Athmer are obligated to honor her memory. We can do so by vowing to never drink and drive. We can do so by not hesitating to call 911 the next time we see someone driving who should not be. Driving should be a privilege, not a right. Hopefully, that privilege will be taken away from Mr. Wright for the rest of his life.

[8 ball]

Eric is a great guy who was wrongfully accused. We all know he didn't do it. You people are all mad because he can drink and do more blow than every last one of you harlets.

[Sensible]

Sarcasm from "8 ball!" Guess that means people should take YOU seriously!

[friend of family]

I know Eric, I worked with him, I met him while I was still in school. He is a nice person, and a huge idiot!! I know several of his friends, who from what I have been told, have tried to get him to get help himself. He refused, and many of them distanced themselves from him for that reason. Someone even made the remark that he was gonna kill somebody some day. Well, he did it and I hope he's proud. He even had the nerve to lie to the police about what happened to cause the wreck. I realize that people make mistakes, but after all of the chances he has had, I hope he rots in hell

[Jim D]

friend of family wrote:

I know Eric, I worked with him, I met him while I was still in school. He is a nice person, and a huge idiot!! I know several of his friends, who from what I have been told, have tried to get him to get help himself. He refused, and many of them distanced themselves from him for that reason. Someone even made the remark that he was gonna kill somebody some day. Well, he did it and I hope he's proud. He even had the nerve to lie to the police about what happened to cause the wreck. I realize that people make mistakes, but after all of the chances he has had, I hope he rots in hell

From a nice person to rotting in hell....all in one paragraph. Ouch

[Mick Donalds]

I ran an illegal gambling ring in the bars in Trenton and that helped me supply kids like Eric with several types of drugs. I turned it over to my son now and he walks around like King Kong with a chubby face. Maybe he is peddling dope to the kids now with all of his recycled welfare money derived from illicit gambling. Its hilarious when the local police have DUI patrols and act like they are cracking down when they know all the while I pollute young minds all over Trenton. Welcome to the charade, but don't forget your seatbelt.

[Daba]

Come on out Mick Donalds, I'm sure you wouldn't have the balls to say this to his face.

[Agree]

Sorry but I tend to kind of agree with the above idiot. The police know who is selling the drugs. Why don't they ever go after them. One of Erics friends just left him prior to the accident. He himself sells large quantities of anything you could imagine. He is related to some higher up cop so he gets away with all he does. Its only a matter of time before he also kills someone.

[Har Dees]

Daba wrote:

Come on out Mick Donalds, I'm sure you wouldn't have the balls to say this to his face.

The balls to say something to who? I have been in Clinton County a few times and to be honest with you it would take no balls to say something to any of you retards. Just to let you know I am from Highland.

[Har Dees]

Agree wrote:

Sorry but I tend to kind of agree with the above idiot. The police know who is selling the drugs. Why don't they ever go after them. One of Erics friends just left him prior to the accident. He himself sells large quantities of anything you could imagine. He is related to some higher up cop so he gets away with all he does. Its only a matter of time before he also kills someone.

So I am an idiot for speaking the truth eh? Elaborate please. You seem to know what I am talking about.