MoDOT safety coordinator has charge reduced in road rage case

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The state safety coordinator for the Missouri Department of Transportation who was accused of pulling out a gun during a road-rage incident in September had his charge reduced on Wednesday.

Harry Adrian IV, of Tuscumbia, is now charged in Cole County with misdemeanor reckless driving. He was previously charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon. Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson did not comment on why the charge was lowered.

The probable cause statement says Adrian was accused by two people of pulling out a gun and pointing it at them during a road-rage incident around 3 p.m. Sept. 22.

A deputy wrote that he stopped Adrian’s vehicle while he was following the alleged victim’s vehicle in the 3000 block of Highway 54 East in Cole County.

Adrian allegedly told deputies that he was involved in a road-rage incident, but claimed he held a cellphone instead of a gun, the statement says. Deputies found a handgun in Adrian’s Ford F-250, the statement says. Adrian also denied the allegations through his lawyer on Nov. 3.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.