Police: Man charged with attempted murder after hitting ex-wife, another person with truck

MATTOON, Ill. (WAND) - A Mattoon man is charged with attempted first-degree murder after police said he purposefully hit his ex-wife and another person with his truck in the Walmart parking lot.

Dennis J. White, 44, was arrested Monday at 10:34 a.m. by the Mattoon Police Department. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and reckless conduct.

MPD said on Saturday around 3 p.m., police were called to the Walmart parking lot for a hit and run accident involving two pedestrians.

Police learned a white truck had hit two people and then taken off. Both victims were taken to the hospital.

Officers learned one of the victims was the ex-wife of White.

MPD said they learned through surveillance video and speaking to witnesses that White accelerated and turned his truck into the victims while they were walking in the parking lot.

One victim was treated at the hospital and released. The other is still hospitalized.

White was taken to the Coles County Safety and Detention Center.

All people charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.