A Texas County man is charged with felonies of first-degree tampering and stealing a motor vehicle after allegedly swiping a pickup from a convenience store parking lot and then crashing it on Highway 76 near Willow Springs.
The West Plains Police Department reported that at about 5 p.m. July 30, it responded to the Junction 14 Snappy Mart on U.S. 63 after a man reported his 2000 Ford Ranger had been stolen sometime between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
As West Plains authorities listed the truck as stolen in law enforcement databases, a report was received indicating its registration had been run by Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop G after it was involved in a crash.
The driver of the crashed truck was identified as Jeffrey A. Christensen, 72, of Elk Creek. An MSHP trooper reported at 10:25 p.m. that the truck was westbound on Highway 76 when it ran off the right side of the road, overturned and struck a fence.
Christensen suffered moderate injuries in the crash and was transported by ambulance to Ozarks Medical Center. Authorities said Christensen had to be cut out of the vehicle due to extensive damage. He was taken to the Howell County Jail and released after posting $4,500 bond.