A Pettis County resident who reportedly was involved in a traffic crash with another vehicle and allegedly left the scene before the arrival of authorities on northbound U.S. Highway 65, near Mt. Olive Road, on November 17, 2017, has been charged with a couple of felonies in Saline County.
A probable-cause statement says the driver of the vehicle still at the scene reportedly identified a partial license-plate number, which eventually led authorities to contact 64-year-old Joseph Gardner Jr., of Sedalia. When shown a picture of Gardner, the driver of the other vehicle reportedly told the trooper “That was the person that was driving.” Damage to the other driver’s vehicle was estimated at $2,500.
Online court documents say a warrant has been issued, and Gardner has been formally charged with Class E Felonies for Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Property Damage Exceeding $1,000 and Driving While Revoked or Suspended, as well as a driving-related misdemeanor. Bond has been set at $5,000 cash or surety.
An initial hearing for Gardner at Saline County Circuit Court in Marshall is pending.