A Moniteau County Sheriff's Department vehicle is out of commission after being damaged in an accident at the end of 2019.
On the evening of Dec. 29, a deputy was patrolling gravel roads west of California. The shoulder where the deputy was patrolling was soft, so as the vehicle went slightly onto the shoulder, its tire sank in and pulled it off the roadway. The vehicle, traveling approximately 30-35 mph, ran into a tree approximately 3 feet off the roadway, where the deputy sustained minor injuries from the airbag when it triggered.
The Missouri Highway Patrol responded to the scene of the accident.
Moniteau County Sheriff Tony Wheatley said the department is currently unsure of whether the vehicle will be a total loss or can be repaired and remain in use, as the department is waiting for its insurance company's evaluation.