Driver in serious Miller County crash in July charged with DWI

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The driver of a single-vehicle crash that occurred over the summer in Miller County was charged on Thursday with DWI.

Austin Riley Oberreither-Newcomb, of Eldon, was charged with driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor reckless driving. A warrant was issued for his arrest on Thursday and a $10,000 bond was set.

Previous reporting indicates that Oberreither-Newcomb was the driver of the vehicle on July 9, 2024, suffered serious injuries and had to be flown to University Hospital in Columbia after crashing his 2017 Lincoln MTX on Highway 52. His passenger had serious injuries and was brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance.

The probable cause statement says there was some confusion at the scene at first, with the passenger initially being identified as the driver. The passenger stated Oberreither-Newcomb, the statement says. Law enforcement spoke with Oberreither-Newcomb while he was being treated and he denied driving the vehicle, the statement says.

Law enforcement smelled alcohol coming from Oberreither-Newcomb and he allegedly admitted to drinking, the statements says. Firefighters who pulled Oberreither-Newcomb and the victim from the vehicle told police that Oberreither-Newcomb was the driver, the statement says.

Oberreither-Newcomb allegedly consented to a blood test for alcohol content. A notice of intent to introduce a crime lab report was filed on Thursday.