One in serious condition following suspected DWI crash in Columbia Saturday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia police arrested a 25-year-old Saturday evening following a crash in the 3800 block of Ponderosa Street.
According to a Sunday morning press release from CPD, Saul Diaz, 25, of Columbia was taken into custody after allegedly crossing the center line and striking another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Police say Diaz was intoxicated when the crash occurred.
A passenger in Diaz’s vehicle sustained serious injuries, the release says.
Diaz was arrested on multiple charges, including driving while intoxicated causing serious physical injury, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, and lane violation. Diaz was not listed on the Boone County Jail roster Sunday night.
Former Cole County Prosecutor Bill Tackett told ABC 17 News that the legal consequences for DWI-related offenses can vary greatly depending on the severity of the incident.
"They have a suspension, all the way up to an accident where there's an injury and it's a Class E felony. Where there's a serious physical injury, it's a Class D felony. If you kill somebody, it's a Class C, and it goes to a B for killing somebody, a law enforcement officer or a special victim." Tackett said.
Under Missouri law, a Class D felony, such as causing serious bodily injury while intoxicated, will not exceed seven years, according to the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission.
Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Kyle Green said the number of impaired driving crashes tends to increase during the warmer months.
"We also take a proactive approach through educating the public on the importance of always using a sober driver and that there are many options available to find a sober ride home," Green told ABC 17 News via email Sunday.
Since Friday, Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop F has made at least six DWI-related arrests, according to online arrest reports. Spokesman Kyle Green said enforcement efforts will ramp up throughout the summer with both checkpoints and public education campaigns.
Tackett said the legal outcome of every DWI case is different.
"Are there prior (offenses)? What's the extent of the injury? Who was injured? There are many enhancement factors that determine the outcome of a DWI case," Tackett said.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 12,429 people were killed in drunk driving crashes across the U.S. in 2023, averaging one death every 42 minutes.
According to Save Missouri Lives, 983 fatalities in the state between 2019 and 2023 involved a substance-impaired driver. Of those drivers, 740 were men and 165 were women.
