A 56-year-old De Soto man has been arrested for allegedly leaving the scene of a fatal accident Jan. 23 on Hwy. 67 south of Meyer Road near Festus, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
The man was arrested Monday (Jan. 28), and the Highway Patrol is seeking charges for second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in a death, the report said.
John J. Wedde, 57, of Festus died in the accident.
At 7:23 p.m. Jan. 23, Wedde was driving a 2003 Hyundai Elantra north on Hwy. 67 when a northbound Chevrolet Tahoe driven by the De Soto man struck the rear left side of the Elantra, which then began to spin and skidded across the median and into the southbound lanes, where it hit a southbound 2014 Chevrolet Silverado head on. The Elantra then ran off the left side of the highway and overturned, the report said.
When the Elantra struck the Silverado, debris from that collision hit a southbound 2017 Jeep Patriot, which was driven by Malvina A. Turner, 24, of De Soto, the report said.
As of this morning (Jan. 29), the highway patrol did not have information about who was driving the Silverado, but the person reportedly was moderately injured and taken by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County.
No injuries were reported for the De Soto man or Turner.
Wedde was pronounced dead at the scene by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance personnel.
Turner was wearing a seat belt, but it’s unknown if the others involved in the accident were wearing them, the patrol reported.
The Elantra and Silverado were totaled, and the Tahoe and Jeep had minor damage, the report said.