A Pevely man who drove away after allegedly hitting an SUV at a Festus gas station has been charged with driving while intoxicated as a persistent offender and leaving the scene of an accident. Matthew Stephen Adams, 42, has been convicted of at least two other DWI charges, according to court records.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Sept. 2 charged Adams with persistent DWI and leaving a scene of an accident that caused more than $1,000 worth of damage, each being class E felonies that each carry a sentence of up to four years in prison, court documents show.
On Sept. 10, Adams was released from the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro after posting a $1,000 bond, court records said.
Adams was arrested June 16 by a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Hwy. 67 near Montauk Drive south of Festus. Before being stopped by the deputy, Adams, who was driving a 2025 Chevrolet Colorado, hit an SUV at the Express Mart gas station, 999 W. Gannon Drive, in Festus, according to probable-cause statements filed by the Festus Police and Sheriff’s Office.
Festus Police were called at about 4:45 p.m. June 16 to the gas station by a woman who was driving a 2023 Nissan Rogue. She told the officer that Adams drove the pickup between vehicles that were parked at gas pumps and sideswiped the SUV she was driving, the probable-cause statement filed by Festus Police said.
Adams kept driving after hitting the SUV, and the woman said she saw him turn north on West Gannon Drive before turning east onto Veterans Boulevard, the report said.
The cost to repair the damaged SUV was $3,444.92, according to the report.
A deputy stopped Adams shortly after the alleged accident. Adams allegedly admitted to being at the Express Mart, and a deputy believed Adams was showing signs of intoxication, according to the probable-cause statement filed by the Sheriff’s Office.
Adams told the deputy he drank non-alcoholic beer. However, Adams allegedly failed field sobriety test and after being arrested he registered a .092 percent blood-alcohol content, the report said. In Missouri, .08 percent is the legal limit.
Court records show Adams was found guilty of DWI in June 2001 in Miller County, and he was convicted of DWI in August 2005 in Jefferson County.