ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A 64-year-old Florissant man was charged with a DWI in connection to a crash that left two officers injured in north St. Louis County.
At about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, two North County Police Cooperative officers were investigating an earlier crash on eastbound Interstate 70 near Jennings Station Road. Tony Rodeal Howard was traveling at a high speed and had swerved to avoid traffic that was slowing for the emergency scene, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. That's when he slid off the right edge of the roadway into the guardrail where two officers were investigating.
Both officers were transported to a local hospital. One officer had moderate injuries, and the other had serious injuries, according to MSHP.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Howard with two counts of DWI resulting in serious injury to law enforcement, a Class D felony. He was being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
Police said Howard had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of intoxicants. He also was swaying while speaking. A breath sample showed his blood alcohol concentration was 0.096%.
"Driving while impaired endangers everyone - including the driver - and will not be tolerated in St. Louis County," St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement. "Police officers performing a necessary public service by investigating a crash do not deserve to become a painful part of a new crash scene."
Howard faces one day to one year in jail, up to seven years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine for the Class D felony, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will update as information becomes available.
