Troy, MO — The driver of a motorcycle was sent to the hospital with serious injuries on Friday, November 28, 2014, after being hit by an SUV in an accident police believe may have been caused by alcohol.
Gary Etthingham was driving his Haryley-Davidson along Highway 47 when Val Stuckel crossed the highway’s center line and hit him with her Nissan Murano. The force of the collision pushed Etthingham into a Chrysler Town and Country car.
Etthingham was taken to Barnes Jewish Hospital. There’s been no update on his condition.
Jennifer Jordan and Matthew Overton, the driver and passenger of the Chrysler, suffered moderate and minor injuries, respectively.
Police have begun their investigation into the accident and have said that alcohol was found inside Stuckel’s vehicle. Toxicology tests have been performed, and officials are waiting for results.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary
Dram shop laws in Missouri forbid establishments that serve alcohol from serving anyone visibly intoxicated. If that turns out to be the case here — if a bar was indeed involved — it’s possible that they could be held partially liable for the accident. Many people that laws like these serve only to help a drunk driver shirk responsibility following an accident. That isn’t the case. Bars that refuse to cut people off, instead filling them up well past their limit, and then sending them on their merry way are complicit if that person goes out and gets into an accident. And they should be held responsible for that. That doesn’t release a driver from his or her responsibility. They should be held accountable. But the bar shouldn’t be allowed to go on as if nothing had happened.
— Grossman Law Offices
