2 indicted in downstate DUI deaths

EDWARDSVILLE -- A grand jury in southwestern Illinois has accused two men in separate suspected impaired-driving wrecks that killed three people.

The panel in Madison County indicted 50-year-old Franklin Petty of St. Louis and 33-year-old James Griesbaum of Aviston of aggravated driving under the influence.

Petty is accused of being impaired by alcohol and marijuana in March when he allegedly caused a two-vehicle crash that killed two passengers, sisters Verna Smallwood and Deneice English of St. Louis.

Authorities contend Griesbaum was drunk in February when his pickup truck collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Barbara Green of Trenton. She died.

Petty and Griesbaum have unlisted home telephone numbers and couldn't be reached for comment. It isn't clear if they have retained an attorney.