A pre-dawn rollover crash on a rural stretch of Missouri Route 52 has left an Arizona woman dead and the driver facing a felony charge in Bates County, according to court and patrol records.
Authorities say an SUV carrying two people from San Luis, Arizona, overturned near MO-52 and County Road 3502 early Monday morning. A 35-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, identified in reports as 37-year-old Orlando Alejandre Solis, also of San Luis, was arraigned Tuesday on a felony count tied to her death.
Highway patrol: Jeep crossed center line before flipping
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee was headed east on MO 52 around 1:39 a.m. Monday when it crossed the center line, left the roadway, overturned and hit a tree.
The patrol report states the passenger, a 35-year-old woman from San Luis, was pronounced dead at 1:57 a.m. Emergency crews transported Solis to Bates County Hospital with what were described as minor injuries.
Arraignment and felony DWI charge
Local reporting says Solis had his initial arraignment Tuesday and is charged with a felony count of DWI death of another, with bond set at $100,000 cash only, as reported by KMZU.
Authorities told reporters that Solis was found to be intoxicated at the time of the crash. Bates County prosecutors will determine formal filings as the investigation moves forward, and the case is expected to return to Bates County court for follow-up hearings.
Seat belt detail, scene work and total loss
Local outlets noted that crash reporting from the patrol indicates the passenger was not wearing a seat belt, while the driver was restrained. KSHB reported the scene near MO-52 and County Road 3502 and that Bates County deputies assisted at the wreck.
KTTN noted that emergency crews pronounced the woman dead at the site and that the Jeep was towed as a total loss.
Legal stakes and what Missouri law says
Under Missouri law, causing the death of another person while driving intoxicated can be treated as a heightened intoxication-related offense and may be charged as a felony. The statutory framework is set out in RSMo §577.010, available from the Revisor of Missouri Statutes, which outlines intoxication-related traffic offenses and possible penalties.
Bates County officials say the investigation remains active, and additional charges or filings could follow as prosecutors continue reviewing the evidence.
