MARION COUNTY — The 20-year-old Brownstown man accused of crashing his SUV into and killing a Salem businessman riding his motorcycle on U.S. Highway 51 earlier this summer is due in Marion County Court Monday morning for a first appearance.

Ryan Feezel (Source: Twitter)
Ryan Feezel
(Source: Twitter)

Ryan Feezel is charged with Class 2 felony aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death in connection with the July traffic death of 47-year-old Kevin Koenegstein on U.S. Highway 51 just north of Patoka.

According to the Illinois State Police, Feezel initially told them he had fallen asleep when his southbound SUV crossed the center line of the highway, striking Koenegstein’s motorcycle, which overturned and caught fire.

However, lab tests came back indicating Feezel had methamphetamine in his urine after the crash.

Koenegstein, of Odin, had been traveling with his 50-year-old wife Mary, who struck wreckage from the collision, became disabled, but was uninjured.

Feezel’s SUV overturned and landed on its driver’s side. Both Kevin Koenegstein and Feezel were taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. Feezel has pleaded not guilty in the case and has demanded a speedy jury trial.