A 38-year-old Pacific man was arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated following a crash on I-44 in Eureka. The man is a prior offender, Eureka Police reported.
The man was driving a 2020 Toyota 86 east on I-44 accident at about 11:30 p.m. Nov. 28, when he lost control of the car while trying to exit onto Hwy. 109. The car went off the right side of the road, hit a guardrail and then traveled back into an eastbound lane before coming to rest, the report said
The man told police he had to swerve to avoid hitting another vehicle. However, there were no signs of another vehicle involved in the accident, according to the report.
Officers reported they could smell alcohol and that the man appeared to be intoxicated. After he was treated by Eureka Fire Protection District personnel, the man allegedly failed a field sobriety test and was arrested, the report said.
The man already had at least one previous DWI conviction.
He was taken to the Police Station, where he was booked released pending application for warrants. Eureka Police will seek charges against the man through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for DWI, operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner and operating a motor vehicle without maintaining financial responsibility, Lt. Michael Werges said.
The Toyota, which had significant damage to its front bumper, hood and passenger side, was towed from the interstate, the report said.