Driver who killed four has prior traffic arrests

CARMI, Ill. -- A Danville man who police say drove drunk and caused a wreck that killed four members of a family was convicted of alcohol-related traffic crimes and other driving offenses several times before the crash, according to court documents.

But Troy E. Kindred, 31, never lost his license or his freedom, instead paying fines for the convictions, according to the documents.

Police say Kindred was driving the wrong way on Interstate 64 in White County Monday night when his sports utility vehicle crashed head-on into the Zhang family's van.

Gloria Zhang, 35, her 6-month-old daughter Bernice, her 12-year-old son Raymond, and a cousin, Kin Zhang, 32, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the van, George Zhang, 36, and 6-month-old Briana, the other infant's twin, were injured and released from St. Mary's Medical Center in Evansville, Ind., on Wednesday.

Joseph Zhang, 9, was in serious condition Thursday at Barnes Children's Hospital in St. Louis.

Illinois State Police have issued tickets to Kindred for drunk driving, improper lane usage, driving in the wrong lane and failing to reduce speed, said John Neumann, a dispatcher at State Police District 19 in Olney.

White County State's Attorney Kerry Sutton said he has not yet reviewed the case or issued charges.

An examination of court records by the Evansville Courier & Press shows Kindred has a long history of traffic offenses, three of them alcohol-related, as far back as 11 years before Monday's crash.

He was convicted of illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver or passenger in a vehicle on three separate occasions, most recently last August. He pleaded guilty in each case and paid $50 to $110 in fines.

He was also convicted of illegal possession of alcohol by a minor in 1989, and again paid a fine and settled the matter.

And in 1998 and 1999, Kindred was cited for driving a vehicle with no registration and for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. In each case, he pleaded guilty and paid a $75 fine.

He also got tickets multiple times for speeding, as recently as the day of the fatal crash.