ST. LOUIS — The three Lake St. Louis police officers injured in a crash on Interstate 70 Wednesday morning are improving but remain in the hospital more than a day after the crash.
In an update posted to the Lake St. Louis Police Department's Facebook page early Thursday afternoon, the department said, "all three officers are progressing well."
Chief Chris DiGuiseppi with the Lake Saint Louis Police Department said one officer was released from the hospital Thursday. Another remains hospitalized but may be released soon.
He also said the third officer is still in critical condition but stable. That officer is progressing well according to medical staff.
A police K-9 named Bach was also injured in the crash. The update from the department said Bach was released from the veterinary hospital and is doing well.
"We appreciate all the thoughts, prayers and overwhelming support we have received from the community," the post said.
Two St. Charles County officers were also injured in the crash. In a Facebook post at about 11:45 Wednesday morning, the department said the St. Charles County officers suffered minor injuries and were released from the hospital.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, five officers suffered injuries and three patrol cars were damaged after being hit by a car that failed to move over for the police vehicles at about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday on eastbound I-70 at Interstate 270.
The man police said was driving that vehicle, 31-year-old Matthew Jones, was charged Wednesday in connection with the crash. Jones was charged with five counts of DWI resulting in serious injury of law enforcement personnel, endangering the welfare of a child and failure to yield to emergency vehicles.
A crash report from MSHP said the three patrol cars had the emergency lights activated when the suspect crashed into the back of one of the vehicles, causing it to spin and hit the other patrol cars and two officers who were outside of them. One of the officers was ejected from the driver's seat of their vehicle.