MOUNT VERNON — A 30-year-old Mt. Vernon man has been arrested on multiple charges after his vehicle allegedly struck an apartment building early Tuesday morning causing an explosion and resulting in a large fire.
(Source: MVPD)
James K. Scroggins was taken into custody for alleged aggravated driving under the influence, driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and improper lane usage. He remains in the Jefferson County Jail awaiting the formal filing of charges and the setting of bail.
According to police reports, around 2:27 Tuesday morning, Mt Vernon Police Officers and Mt Vernon Firefighters responded to a single vehicle accident at 3410 Veterans Memorial Drive where a vehicle had struck the west side of the Garden Glen apartment building.
Upon arriving at the accident, personnel detected an odor of natural gas. The Mt Vernon firefighters and Mt Vernon Police officers began an evacuation of the apartment building.
During the evacuation there was an explosion which ignited the building. When the building exploded a Mt Vernon firefighter was injured. The firefighter was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital by Litton’s Ambulance, was treated at the hospital and later released.
Additional personnel from the Jefferson Fire Protection District, Woodlawn Fire Department, Waltonville Fire Department, Litton’s Ambulance Service, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police responded to the scene.
Thirty-one residents of the apartment complex are currently displaced but the only injury was to the firefighter. The American Red Cross is on scene to assist the residents. Donations of gently used clothing, household supplies, totes, and bags are currently being accepted for residents of Building 8 and may be taken to the Rolland W. Lewis Community Building during open office hours.
Also, residents of Building 8 are encouraged to go to Rolland W. Lewis Community Building to fill out forms indicating sizes of clothes and needs. For more information regarding donations, contact Brenda Torres at 231-4403.
Firefighters are thanking Heartland Women’s Healthcare and Casey’s for breakfast after a very long, cold morning at the fire.
