The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is trying to identify two people who allegedly stole a pickup from a House Springs salvage yard, hit a car and fled the scene, escaping into a wooded area near Hwy. 30 in Byrnes Mill. The suspects reportedly fled the scene of the accident at about 2:45 p.m. Jan. 28, Byrnes Mill Police Chief Frank Selvaggio said.
The owner of Archway Auto Salvage and Sales, 4140 Gravois Road, told deputies that two people showed up there that day and stole a 1990 GMC Sierra parked in front of the business. The pickup belonged to an employee, a report said.
The owner said one of the suspects had blond hair and was wearing a Carhartt coat, and the other person had dark hair and was wearing a winter coat. The owner said he followed the pickup in another vehicle into Byrnes Mill, where the accident occurred, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
The person driving the Sierra allegedly ran a stop sign at the intersection of Hwy. 30 and Indian Springs Drive and then hit a 2014 Dodge Avenger. The pickup was traveling north on Indian Springs Drive when it hit the side of the Avenger, which was being driven west on Hwy. 30 by Amy Merli, 54, of Robertsville, Selvaggio said.
The Avenger spun into the center median of the highway, and the suspects got out of the pickup and fled into a wooded area to the west of the highway, authorities reported.
Merli was injured in the accident, but she refused to be transported to a hospital. She was wearing a seat belt, Byrnes Mill Police reported.
Both vehicles were significantly damaged, Selvaggio said.
As of Feb. 12, the suspects had not been identified. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5515 or Byrnes Mill Police at 636-677-7727.