The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) investigation revealed that Colby McCreary had a blood alcohol level of 0.17 during a hospital blood draw, more than twice the legal limit.
Krista Kalpakoff, the mother of a woman who died in a car crash last April, expressed her dissatisfaction after the driver’s original felony charges were downgraded to a misdemeanor. Her son-in-law, Colby McCreary, a former Jefferson County deputy, was driving on the Interstate 55 when his car overturned on April 30. As a result, he and her daughter, Savannah McCreary, were both thrown from the car.
Kalpakoff said the crash, which she called a “nightmare”, transpired after McCreary’s son’s birthday celebration. While driving on I-55, the car veered and flipped over, resulting in the couple’s ejection and the exposure of Savannah’s lower body. Both were taken to Mercy South in south St. Louis County, where Savannah died the next day due to her injuries.
Kalpakoff added that she received no communication from the McCrearys after the accident and had to search through 11 hospitals before discovering where her daughter had been admitted.
Colby McCreary, originally charged with DUI leading to death and involuntary manslaughter, had the charges reduced due to lack of solid evidence in court. According to the Jefferson County prosecuting attorney’s office, neither Savannah nor Colby were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The crash reconstruction report revealed that the car was traveling at a speed of 86 miles per hour prior to the crash, and the wheel was suddenly turned clockwise 1.8 seconds before the impact, causing the car to swerve right.
Officers on the scene noted no obvious signs of intoxication from Colby. His lawyer, Travis Noble, stated that the conditions were not ideal to detect any alcohol scent and there were no open alcohol containers in the car.
Savannah left behind two children aged four and nine. It’s been extremely tough for them and their grandmother Kalpakoff, who plans to attend Colby’s upcoming preliminary hearing with the reduced charges.
The hearing is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday in Jefferson County.