John Matthew Morton, 57, of Arnold has been sentenced to seven years in prison for driving while intoxicated and crashing into two vehicles, hurting five people in the wreck, court papers indicate.
In April 2014, Morton was intoxicated and driving a 1998 Lincoln Continental south on Old Sugar Creek Road in Fenton, and the car crossed the center line and struck a northbound 1999 GMC Savana. Then, the Continental continued south in the north lane and struck a northbound 2013 Dodge Journey head-on, the probable-cause statement said.
The driver of the Savana and two passengers from that van sustained moderate to severe injuries and were taken to St. Anthony’s Medical Center in south St. Louis County. The driver of the Journey sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment. A passenger in the Journey, though, sustained moderate injuries and was taken to St. Anthony’s, the report said.
Morton also was injured in the crash and was taken to St. Anthony’s, according to the report.
A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who responded to the scene said that Morton smelled strongly of alcohol, and his eyes were watery and bloodshot. “His speech was slurred and mumbled,” and he failed field sobriety tests. Morton also admitted to drinking alcohol prior to the accident, according to the report.
Morton pleased guilty to five counts of felony second-degree assault by operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and on Dec. 1, 2015, Jefferson County Div. 4 Circuit Judge Mark T. Stoll sentenced him to five seven-year prison terms. However, all the terms are to be served concurrently, or at the same time, court records show.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Thomas E. Hollingsworth handled the case.
Morton currently is in the Boonville Correctional Center.