UPDATE: On June 15, 2012, Illinois State Police said Jason Gruber pleaded guilty in Henry County Court to driving more than 40 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.
Gruber reportedly entered the plea at a mandatory appearance with his attorney on May 17, 2012.
Gruber was fined $2,500 plus court costs for a total of $3,567.
“This fine is monetarily very costly, but when you imagine what the potential destructive power at those speeds could be, it pales in comparison to the cost of human life,” said Illinois State Police District 7 Commander, Capt. Jeffrey Patterson.
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Original story from March 21, 2012:
Illinois State Police say they arrested a 21-year-old Davenport, Iowa man for allegedly driving 131 miles per hour on Interstate 80 near Geneseo, Illinois.
A trooper reportedly saw a 2003 Mercedes traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on I-80 a mile west of Geneseo just before 1 a.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012.
The trooper said his radar unit clocked the Mercedes at 131 miles per hour. The speed limit at the trooper’s location was 65 miles per hour.
The trooper stopped the Mercedes and arrested the driver, Jason Gruber, for driving 40 or more miles per hour above the posted speed limit.
A statement from Illinois State Police District 7 said half of all traffic fatalities in their area from 2005 to 2010 were speed-related.
Gruber was held in the Henry County, Illinois Jail. Online records show he was released the same date of his arrest.
