A 26-year-old Clinton man who was attempting to elude authorities during a pursuit on Sunday, March 1, and crashed his vehicle into another vehicle and the other driver died as a result, has been charged with several felonies.
A report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol says the crash occurred as a northbound vehicle, driven by Westley Reid, failed to stop for a red light and struck a westbound vehicle, driven by 27-year-old Zachary Hancock Bottom. Hancock Bottom’s vehicle then struck a southbound vehicle, driven by 45-year-old Michael Simons, of Sedalia, and Hancock Bottom, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected out of his vehicle.
Hancock Bottom was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, where he was pronounced deceased at 10:05 p.m. by a doctor. Reid, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment of moderate injuries. Simons was not injured.
The crash happened at 8:26 p.m. on U.S. Highway 65 at West 32nd Street in Sedalia.
A news release from the Sedalia Police Department says this crash happened as part of a vehicle pursuit.
At 8:24 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, the Sedalia Police Department was notified of a pursuit approaching the south city limits of Sedalia on U.S. Highway 65. A Sedalia officer was on patrol near the south city limits and was able to attempt a requested stop-stick deployment. The suspect vehicle did not strike the stop sticks, and the pursuit continued northbound approximately three-quarters of a mile before ending in a vehicle collision.
Sedalia Police assisted with scene security and traffic direction while the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the accident scene. The Sedalia Police Department did not actively pursue the suspect vehicle.
Reid has been charged with a Class A Felony for Murder in the Second Degree- Attempting to Flee from Arrest and a Person Dies; a Class B Felony for DWI- Death of Another Person, not a Passenger; a Class D Felony for Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree; and a Class E Felony for Resisting Arrest for a Felony. Bond has been fixed at $100,000 cash or surety.
Reid was arraigned on Monday, March 2. His next hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, at Pettis County Circuit Court.