Michael V. Dressel, 58, of Salem has been charged with DWI (death of a person) and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway after his passenger died in a Dent County vehicle accident early Oct. 31.
Kevin Slawson, 57, of High Ridge died at the scene of the accident after the side-by-side Dressel was operating overturned, officials said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol no longer identifies victims of crashes. Dent County Coroner Ben Pursifull identified the victim Monday morning.
According to the probable-cause statement, Dressel was operating a Can-Am Maverick Sport XRC at 12:25 a.m. on County Road 6520 when the vehicle overturned. Slawson, an occupant in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at 1:55 a.m. at the scene and was taken to the Dent County Morgue.
The probable-cause statement alleges Dressel was driving too fast for the gravel road while in an intoxicated condition. Dressel was released on a $50,000 surety bond on Tuesday.
The vehicle had moderate damage. Slawson was not wearing a safety device, the patrol reported.
