Jefferson City, MO : St. Charles County man charged in fatal crash near Rolla told officers he was distracted by a bee on Monday, 24th October 2016

A man from St. Charles County told police he was distracted by a bee when he plowed into the back of two motorcyclists near Rolla on Monday, killing one man and seriously injuring another.

Jerry Lee Huskey, 51, of the 2400 block of Merribrook Lane near O'Fallon, was charged Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter and possession of meth in connection with the deadly crash.

The Missouri Highway Patrol identified the motorcyclist who died as James A. Finazzo, 67, of Rolla.

Huskey was being held Tuesday in Phelps County in lieu of $100,000 bail. A condition of bail is that he submit to a blood or urine test to check for drugs and alcohol.

The crash occurred at 12:11 p.m. Monday on Highway 72, near five miles east of Rolla.

Police say Huskey was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer west on Highway 72. Two westbound motorcyclists, both on Harley Davidsons, had stopped on the highway, preparing to make a left turn. Huskey struck both motorcycles from behind.

Finazzo was pronounced dead at the scene. Another motorcyclist, Donald R. Ware, 60, of Rolla, was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Columbia, Mo., in serious condition. Both Finazzo and Ware had been wearing helmets, police say.

Debris from the crash hit an eastbound car, driven by Lisa Jo Haller, 49, of Rolla. She had minor injuries.

Huskey was treated at a hospital in Rolla for moderate injuries.

Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney Brendon Fox charged Huskey with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and possession of meth with intent to distribute.

When the patrol trooper arrived at the crash site, Huskey was sitting on the shoulder and told the trooper he was involved in the crash. Huskey told officers he was "swatting at a bee" and didn't see the motorcycles, according to court documents.

When a trooper talked with Huskey in an ambulance, his eyes were rolling back in his head and he failed a sobriety test, court records allege. Police say they searched Huskey's clothes at the hospital and found six baggies containing meth.

Source :
St. Charles County man charged in fatal crash near Rolla told officers he was distracted by a bee