A 50-year-old Barnhart woman has been charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in a death and driving while intoxicated following a fatal accident May 20 on the West Outer Road south of El Lago Drive between Arnold and Imperial, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported this evening, May 22.
Holly S. Smith was arrested shortly after the accident, which occurred at 7:16 p.m. May 20, when she was driving a northbound 2019 Dodge Journey and allegedly struck a motorcycle from behind. James A. Meyer Jr., 54, of Villa Ridge was riding the 2000 Harley-Davidson Custom motorcycle north on the West Outer Road and began to slow, and Smith was driving behind him and failed to stop and struck the bike, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
He was taken by Rock Township Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County, where he was pronounced dead at 8:02 p.m. authorities reported.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that Smith fled the scene in the SUV, making her way to the Jefferson College Imperial campus, 4400 Jeffco Blvd., where she turned around and started traveling north on Jeffco Boulevard. Arnold Police stopped the SUV on Jeffco Boulevard near Tall Oaks Lake Drive, and deputies arrested Smith, the Sheriff’s Office said.
No injuries were reported for Smith.
Meyer was not wearing a helmet, and Smith was not wearing a seat belt, the patrol reported.
The motorcycle was totaled, and the SUV had minor damage, the report said.