Maries County deputies believe alcohol involved in fatal crash Saturday

A Maries County man is dead after a single-vehicle crash in Belle early Saturday morning, according to a Facebook post from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies said the Belle Police Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol helped investigate a single-vehicle crash on Highway 28 near Highway 89 during the early morning hours Saturday.

Matt Nilges, a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. They said the driver was airlifted to a hospital in St. Louis in critical condition.

Deputies said they believe alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.

The crash was the second driving while intoxicated-related crash in Belle within a 12-hour time span, deputies said. They said drivers can expect to see additional DWI enforcement in the area.