Suspected drunk driver killed when Missouri trooper uses tactical maneuver to end chase

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - State officials are investigating a traffic stop that turned deadly early Saturday morning.

According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a trooper in Clay County saw a driver who appeared to be intoxicated around 1:20 a.m. on August 30.

The trooper noted that as the driver was headed north on Interstate 35, they were unable to keep their silver Chevrolet Tahoe in one lane and nearly hit the guardrail several times.

The trooper tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away. Just south of Brighton Avenue, the trooper used a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) to stop the chase.

The maneuver sent the Chevrolet off the side of the road and into a ditch before the car rolled and came to a stop. The driver was ejected during the crash and died at the scene.

MSHP has not released the driver’s identity, but said their next of kin was notified.

Per policy, MSHP’s division of drug and crime control is investigating the trooper’s use of force. The MSHP major crash investigation unit its investigation as well.