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A recently expelled student pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of failure to avoid an accident and driving under the influence.
Scott Toomsen, a 38-year-old Carbondale resident, was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving under the influence after a June 19 incident in which he struck the back of an administrator's car. Kathleen Plesko, director of Disability Support Services, told Carbondale police she was concerned Toomsen hit her intentionally, according to police reports.
Cocaine was later found in Toomsen's system while he was treated for injuries at Carbondale Memorial Hospital. Arresting Officer Blake Quinn described Toomsen's speech as slurred in the report. Quinn wrote that Toomsen said he had taken Lorzapan and Vicoden, medications Toomsen said he was prescribed for severe brain trauma.
According to the reports, Toomsen had a bowling class the day of the accident and stopped at Disability Support Services to speak with Plesko. She gave him a ride to his car and Toomsen began to drive southbound on South Illinois Avenue to stop at Huck's for cigarettes and to go to a friend's house, but the car in front of him stopped suddenly. Toomsen said he slammed on the brakes but could not avoid the car.
He was distraught to learn the person in the car was Plesko, the reports stated.
Toomsen said he feels guilty about the problems he caused the university and Plesko, but that he would never hurt her intentionally.
"(Plesko) was always the one who stood beside me and took care of me and looked after me," Toomsen said.
Plesko said Toomsen was removed from Woody Hall two days before the accident because his erratic behavior caused the staff to be fearful, according to the reports. University officials expelled Toomsen June 24.
Toomsen said he did not want to get into specifics about the case until after his trial complete.
Toomsen's attorney, Jackson County Public Defender David Smith, would not comment.
Toomsen's pretrial date is scheduled for Sept. 8 and the trial is set for Sept. 22.
Jeff Engelhardt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or jengel@siu.edu.
