A High Ridge man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for a crash that killed a Dittmer woman on Valentine’s Day. The crash occurred on Hwy. 30 at Hwy. B in Cedar Hill.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Feb. 25 charged Huggy Smiles Kindness, 36, with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, a class C felony punishable by three to 10 years in prison. A no-bond warrant was issued for Kindness’ arrest, but as of Thursday, Feb. 27, he had not been arrested, court records show.
Kindness allegedly ran a red light and hit a car driven by Jaden E. Martinson, 20, on Feb. 14. Martinson died on Feb. 16.
According to the case’s probable-cause statement, Kindness was driving an eastbound 2021 Acura ILX on Hwy. 30 at Hwy. B in Cedar Hill when he allegedly ran a red light and struck the right side of a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by Martinson, at about 2:25 p.m. Feb. 14. Martinson was turning left from Hwy. 30 onto Hwy. B.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the event data recorder in the Acura showed the car was traveling at least 108 mph in a 60-mph zone at the time of the accident. A Sunset Hills Police officer also told a state trooper that Kindness had fled from a traffic stop earlier in day, according to the report.
Kindness was moderately injured, and both drivers were taken by Big River Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County, the report said.
A state trooper interviewed Kindness at the hospital following the accident. Kindness allegedly told the trooper he had been flying, was attempting to get through a portal and to contact God and that he had been in contact with a fighter pilot who was above him, according to the report.
Kindness was speaking rapidly and in rhyme. He also allegedly admitted to driving through a red light on the highway, but he claimed he did not hit anyone, the report said.
A preliminary breath test showed Kindness had a blood-alcohol content level of zero. However, he allegedly failed field sobriety tests at the hospital, according to the report.
Kindness was arrested, but he was released to the hospital staff to undergo psychiatric evaluation, the probable-cause statement said.
A urine sample Kindness provided at the hospital allegedly tested positive for benzodiazepine, a sedative commonly used to treat anxiety, and cannabinoid, commonly known as marijuana, the report said.
In October 2022, Kindness’ name was legally changed from Eric Lindsey Matthew, court records show.