Man accused of drunken driving after Jefferson City crash

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people were hurt after a suspected drunk driver caused a crash on Highway 50/63 in Jefferson City on Monday night.

According to a press release from the Jefferson City Police Department, Communications received a report at 10:37 p.m. of a car going westbound in the eastbound lane of Highway 50/63.

Police were called at 10:39 p.m. for a two-car crash in the 6700 block of Highway 50/63 eastbound past the Osage City exit, the release says.

Jefferson City officers reported finding two cars off the road in the median with heavy front-end damage.

Zachary Parsons, 38, of Jefferson City was driving a 2021 Toyota Corolla when he crashed into a 2022 Ford Escape and driver Tashay Benford, 28, of St. Louis County.

Jefferson City police suspect Parsons of driving while intoxicated.

Both drivers were removed from their cars by the Jefferson City Fire Department before they were flown by helicopter to a hospital in Columbia with serious injuries, according to the release.

Both drivers were reported to be wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, the release says.