Why was English's license still valid?

By Gretchen Ross - bio | email

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, IN (WFIE) - The Vanderburgh County Clerk's office admits to never transferring the paperwork to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Indianapolis to permanently remove Daniel Joe English II driver's license after he had been convicted of six DUI charges.

Vanderburgh County Deputy Prosecutor Camala Cooley says even though English's license should have been permanently suspended since 2005, he still carried a valid driver's license on him after Thursday night's police chase and fatal car crash.

Cooley says this is the first case that's come across her desk where no paperwork had ever been filed to suspend a habitual traffic offender's license.

"Normally licenses are suspended appropriately," said Cooley.  "So I am not sure if this is just an incident where something happened and fell through the cracks."

Cooley says usually after someone has their license permanently revoked like English, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles handles the details.

But when she called the Bureau today about English, they gave her little information.

"They are investigating to check, and they do not see as of yet any paperwork regarding the suspension," said Cooley.  "I faxed them the docket sheets of the suspension and looking into as far as their end."

Cooley says the Bureau stated they never received a notice from the County's Clerks Office of English's license suspension.

She says the clerk's office confirmed they never transferred the documentation to Bureau nearly four years ago.

Cooley admits even if English's license had been removed, like others he could have still been driving Christmas night.

But today after being released from deaconess hospital..English faces five charges.

"There are two class B felonies that he is facing right now," said Evansville Police Chief Brad  Hill.  "One is for resisting law enforcement and the other is for causing a death while driving intoxicated because of his previous record and because he was over .15 BAC."

Vanderburgh County Clerk Susan Kirk says she and her office are deeply sorry for their mistake and wish Onterrio Sharp their best wishes and prayers.