METRO EAST — A man who crashed head-on into a Metro East family’s SUV, killing a mother, her son and himself, had a blood alcohol percentage five times the legal limit.
A toxicology report released by the family on Friday shows that Blaise E. Nowak, 21, of Trenton in Clinton County, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.41%.
It’s illegal to drive in Illinois with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or more.
On March 17, Nowak’s eastbound car crossed into the westbound lane on U.S. 50 in St. Clair County and struck the westbound SUV driven by Ashley Emmerich, 37, of Lebanon, who died at a hospital, police said.

Ashley Emmerich
Emmerich’s son, Jacob Emmerich-Tomlin, 10, died at the scene, as did Nowak. Emmerich’s 3-year-old daughter, Gracie Koehler, was seriously injured and remains hospitalized. Her three other children were not in the vehicle, a family member said.
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The toxicology report was issued April 4 by Pennsylvania-based NMS Labs for the St. Clair County coroner’s office.
A person with a blood alcohol content of 0.3% to 0.4% is likely to have alcohol poisoning and experience loss of consciousness, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Jacob Emmerich-Tomlin
Emmerich’s sister, Amanda Emmerich of New Baden, on Friday said that learning the extent of Nowak’s intoxication had been “a huge blow to us.â€
She said the family is also upset because Nowak had previously been charged with DUI in 2021 in Madison County and had been ticketed for various other traffic violations in the Metro East in recent years.
In St. Clair County, court records say, he faced at least 10 traffic-related charges since 2020. Among them were reckless driving and speeding.
“He never should have been behind the wheel,†she said. “He never should have gotten his license back.â€
In the DUI case, online court records said Nowak, after pleading guilty, was sentenced to alcohol treatment and had to pay $1,500.
The March 17 crash took place about 8:50 p.m. on a two-lane stretch of U.S. 50 near Clinton County Line Road.

Gracie Koehler. Photo courtesy of the family
An Illinois State Police crash report says a witness driving eastbound in front of Nowak told officers that Nowak’s car passed the witness’ vehicle at a high rate of speed, then struck Ashley Emmerich’s SUV head-on.
Nowak’s car became engulfed in flames, the report said, while Emmerich’s SUV came to rest on its passenger side.
Emmerich’s daughter, Gracie, was taken by helicopter to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.
Amanda Emmerich said the girl has since been transferred to Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Maryland Heights. Among her injuries are a traumatic brain injury and a broken leg, Amanda Emmerich said.
Nowak’s parents could not be reached for comment Friday.
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