One person was killed Dec. 14 in a crash involving a drunk driver in southern Texas County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
The patrol said a southbound 2000 Jeep Wrangler driven by Tanner C. Beasley, 26, of Summersville, crossed the centerline of Highway 137 and into the path of a northbound 2005 Chrysler Touring operated by Jessica A. Messex, 30, of Willow Springs. The Jeep overturned, and both vehicles came to rest off the highway following the 6:14 a.m. accident about six miles north of Willow Springs.
A passenger in the Messex vehicle, Heath L. Wadkins, 30, of Mountain View, was pronounced dead at the scene by Texas County Coroner Marie Lasater. The patrol said he was not wearing a seat belt.
Beasley and Messex, who were both wearing seatbelts, were transported by ambulance with serious injuries to Ozarks Medical Center at West Plains. Both vehicles were totaled.
Beasley is charged with DWI – death of another (not a passenger), second-degree felony assault, careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident and having no insurance.
It was the 41st fatality in the nine-county Troop G compared to 37 at the same time in 2018.
The patrol’s major crash investigation unit was deployed to the site.