Probable cause has been found in the case of Lance Pitsch, who is on trial for an accident that resulted in the death of a Taylorville woman and her unborn child. In a preliminary hearing on Friday the Christian County State’s Attorney’s office called Special Agent Eric Weston with the Illinois State Police to the stand. Weston testified that he was contacted to assist in the investigation of a wreck on IL Rt 48. Weston said his team spoke with a witness who said they viewed a pickup truck Pitsch was believed to be driving weaving across the road, and eventually causing the accident.

Weston testified that an officer investigating a possible DUI charge in the accident went to the hospital where Pitsch was transported to, and was told that Pitsch had undergone a medical blood draw for his injuries, which showed a blood alcohol content of .373.

Weston was called to interview Pitsch at this time, where he asked Pitsch to go over the day of the crash. Pitsch said during that interview that he woke up and traveled to the Taylorville area to hunt, and that he was drinking vodka while hunting. Pitsch also said once he left his hunting area for home, he got lost, and was putting in an address in his GPS when he looked up and realized he was heading off the road, and that he didn’t remember much after that. Regarding the vodka he was drinking, Weston testified that Pitsch said he kept his vodka in a water bottle that he drank throughout the day, and that it was apparent Pitsch was still under the influence of alcohol when he interviewed him.

The court found probable cause on all counts for the case to proceed to trial. Pitsch plead not guilty to the charges, and a jury trial date was set for February 27th at 8:30, with further pretrial set for February 9th at 11am.