MEDORA, IL – A tragic collision on July 7, 2025, in Medora has led to serious criminal charges for an Alton man after authorities say he was driving under the influence of cocaine at the time of the crash.
According to the Illinois State Police, 45-year-old Anthony G. Ford Jr. has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death, a Class 2 felony under Illinois law. The charge stems from a fatal two-vehicle crash on Illinois Route 267 near FS Road that claimed the life of Taylor Cummines.
Investigators say Ford was behind the wheel of a 2020 Ford F4G box truck when it collided with a passenger car driven by Cummines. Emergency responders from Troop 8 of the Illinois State Police arrived on the scene to find both vehicles heavily damaged. Tragically, Cummines was pronounced dead as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Toxicology reports later revealed that Ford had cocaine in his system at the time of the collision. Authorities have stated that the presence of the drug significantly contributed to the fatal outcome, forming the basis for the aggravated DUI charge.
Under Illinois law, aggravated DUI resulting in death carries a possible prison sentence of three to fourteen years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if convicted. The case is being prosecuted with the full weight of the law due to the loss of life involved.
The incident has left the Medora community shaken, as friends and family mourn the untimely loss of Taylor Cummines. Described by loved ones as a kind and caring individual, Cummines’ death has sparked renewed conversations about the dangers of impaired driving and the irreversible consequences it can bring.
Authorities continue to urge drivers to make safe choices and avoid getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. “This tragedy was preventable,” an Illinois State Police spokesperson said. “A single decision changed multiple lives forever.”
Court proceedings for Ford are pending, and he remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Meanwhile, the Cummines family is preparing for services to honor their loved one’s memory as they begin the difficult journey of healing.
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