A 29-year-old Barnhart man was arrested Sunday night (June 2) after fleeing from a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper on I-55 and later crashing into the west side of the Bob Evans restaurant, 1003 Veterans Blvd., in Festus.
According to the Highway Patrol website, charges of felony resisting arrest by flight and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated will be sought against the suspect. The suspect was also found to be wanted by Jefferson County on a felony probation violation.
The crash occurred about 10:30 p.m., a spokesman for the restaurant said.
Today (June 3), Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Juston Wheetley said he had few details of the incident, but noted that the accident occurred after the pursuit was halted.
“An officer got into a pursuit of a vehicle that terminated, but the driver continued before he somehow got into the parking lot and crashed into the building,” Wheetley said.
The Festus Fire Department reported firefighters extinguished a small fire in the car's engine compartment at the crash site.
No injuries from the accident were reported on the patrol website. He said the suspect was driving a 2015 Acura, but did not report the amount of damage to the vehicle.
Jason Batchelor, a manager at the restaurant, said the accident occurred after business hours. The accident forced the business to remain closed while repairs were made today, he said.
“We will reopen tomorrow morning (June 4) at 6 a.m.,” he said.