TEXAS COUNTY, Mo. — A 41-year-old St. Louis man faces multiple felony charges after his box truck rear-ended a stopped SUV on Highway 17, killing one person and critically injuring another.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the two-vehicle crash at approximately 10:24 a.m. on June 16 near the Dogs Bluff Conservation Area. William Roy White III drove an International box truck that struck a red Dodge Journey SUV from behind.
The SUV driver died at the scene. Emergency responders airlifted the passenger to a hospital with critical injuries.
White sustained injuries and received transport to Texas County Memorial Hospital by ambulance. Officers detected a strong marijuana smell in the truck cab and observed marijuana near the driver’s seat.
A portable breath test revealed White’s blood alcohol content at 0.026 percent. He admitted to drinking alcohol on Father’s Day and smoking some marijuana. White denied smoking marijuana while driving, claiming it unprofessional on the job.
Two witnesses provided crucial testimony about the crash. One witness stated the SUV had stopped completely when the truck struck it. The witness said White never braked. A second witness observed White rounding a corner while waving his hands and possibly holding a cell phone. This witness emphasized that White never slowed before impact.
Prosecutors charged White with driving while intoxicated resulting in death of two or more persons. Additional charges include first-degree involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated causing serious physical injury.
White also faces second-degree assault and armed criminal action charges. The investigation continues as authorities examine all evidence from the fatal collision.
The crash highlights ongoing concerns about impaired driving on Missouri highways. State patrol officials continue investigating the circumstances surrounding this deadly accident.
