Man charged in fatal DWI crash on I-55 near Meramec Bottom

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A St. Louis man appeared in court Tuesday morning to face charges for striking and killing a pedestrian along Interstate 55 over the weekend.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crash report, the crash happened at 8:15 p.m. Sunday on I-55, just north of Meramec Bottom Road.

State troopers claim a 2009 Infiniti G37x was traveling northbound on the interstate when the driver attempted to pass a 2015 Kia Optima in front of him by using the right shoulder. The driver struck a pedestrian and a 2005 Hyundai Elantra that were already on the shoulder, and then struck the passenger side of the Optima.

The pedestrian went through the front windshield of the Infiniti landed in the rear passenger seat. The Infiniti then overturned and struck a rock bluff.

The pedestrian, identified as David R. Earl of Live Oak, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene just after 8:35 p.m. Earl was 44.

The driver of the Kia Optima was uninjured.

State troopers claim the driver of the Infiniti, identified as Colin P. Tentschert, 22, showed signs of alcohol intoxication. Tentschert took a breath test at the scene of the crash and allegedly recorded a BAC of .123.

Authorities claim Tentschert consented to a blood test and admitted to drinking half a bottle of vodka earlier in the day.

Tentschert suffered only minor injuries in the crash. A passenger in his car, a 20-year-old woman, was seriously injured. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to the highway patrol.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Tentschert with one count of DWI – death of another. A judge set Tentschert’s bond at $100,000.

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