Woman ‘arrested’ for DWI in injury crash with 5 year old
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s online report, Destiny Bearden, 30, of Gainesville, was “arrested” (but released for medical treatment) following an April 23 rollover crash on County Road 503, south of Gainesville, that resulted in injuries to both herself and a 5-year-old girl who was riding as a passenger in the truck.
According to the MSHP online crash report, at 11 p.m. last Thursday night, April 23, Bearden was traveling southbound on County Road 503, known locally as “Cheese Plant Road,” in a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado when she lost control of the vehicle, traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a fence. The truck rolled, and a 5-year-old girl who was riding as a passenger and was not restrained in a car seat, was ejected from the truck. The vehicle reportedly came to a rest on its top.
This week’s sheriff’s dispatch report shows that a resident on County Road 503 called the sheriff’s office at 10:49 p.m. that night reporting that a woman was knocking on her door, screaming that her baby girl was stuck under a truck. The caller said her husband followed the woman to help, and she dialed 911. The dispatch report then shows another call coming in at 10:52 p.m. from a woman who the dispatcher believed to be Bearden, screaming, “Help! I can’t get my baby.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol was contacted and dispatched the scene. The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department and Ozark County Ambulance also responded. Once on scene, OCA requested that a helicopter ambulance be dispatched for the girl. Air Evac declined to respond due to weather. Instead, Cox Air Care responded and flew the girl to Cox South Hospital in Springfield for treatment. The crash report lists the girls injuries as “minor.” Bearden was also transported to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, with “moderate” injuries, according to the report.
An 11:58 p.m. entry says that Ozark County Deputy Jeffery Lane asked dispatch for an estimated time of arrival for a trooper. The dispatcher said there were two troopers coming to the scene, while another Troop G officer would be visiting Cox South to conduct a test on the driver.
The vehicle was towed by Ron’s Recovery at Ozark County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Matt Rhoades’s request. The crash was investigated by MSHP Cpl. D. J. Johnson with assistance by Cpl. S. J. Crewse and Tpr. J. Lock.
Bearden has not been formally charged by the Ozark County prosecutor at this point; however, the MSHP report shows that the troopers suggest charges of driving a vehicle while intoxicated in a crash involving an injury, careless and imprudent driving, having no insurance and failing to restrain a child in a car seat.