A section of between 35- and 40-feet of fence at the Festus Public Works Department was damaged in a crash Tuesday.
A 19-year-old Crystal City man sustained serious injuries early Tuesday (Dec. 22) when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed through a chain-link fence at the Festus Public Works salt storage building along North Fifth Street, authorities reported.
Festus Police Sgt. Jessica Griffaw today (Dec. 23) said the incident occurred about 12:30 a.m. Armondre Towsend was driving a 2014 Kia Forte westbound on the road, she said.
“He appears to have lost control of the vehicle and struck the fence,” she said.
She said it is not known if he was wearing a seatbelt because he had exited the vehicle before police arrived. The vehicle was totaled, she said.
She said Townsend was taken by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance to Mercy Hospital Jefferson with serious injuries. A Mercy Hospital spokesman said today (Dec. 23) that Townsend was treated and then transferred for further medical treatment. His condition wasn’t available.
Matt Unrein, the Festus public works director, after viewing video footage said the car came to rest just before striking the salt storage building.
“It hit the fence and hit concrete in front of the building, at a corner of the building,” Unrein said. “It’s raised concrete.
“There’s pretty significant damage to the fence. He tore out 35- to 40-feet of fence. We’ll put up temporary fencing because, with the holidays, there could be a delay in repairing it.”