Police: Teen in wreck had alcohol in system

Breathalyzer tests showed an Illinois teenager involved in a fatal car accident last weekend in Perry County was legally intoxicated at the time.

The wreck occurred in the early morning hours Sunday and resulted in a second-degree assault charge against Christopher D. Petzoldt, 18, of Glendale Heights, Ill., because his cousin, Jacob A. Weber, 18, of Frohna, Mo., suffered serious injury in the accident.

Weber died later Sunday at Saint Francis Medical Center.

Neither was wearing a seat belt, according to a probable-cause statement written by trooper C.M. Arbuthnot of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The teens were returning from a deer camp. Saturday was the first day of deer season, and Weber was an avid hunter. While at the camp, Petzoldt had five or six beers but hadn't had anything to drink after they left, he told police at the scene.

They were heading into Perryville to use a phone when Petzoldt hit a curve and lost control of his pewter-colored GMC Envoy.

He said he was speeding and came around the turn too fast, according to the statement.

The investigation revealed that the sport utility vehicle slid off the left side of the sharp curve and overturned multiple times before coming to a stop on the driver's side.

Weber and Petzoldt were both thrown from the vehicle. Petzoldt told police his cousin was unconscious and did not appear to be breathing when he found him lying in a field near the Envoy.

While speaking with Petzoldt, Arbuthnot noticed that he smelled like alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, the statement said.

Police informed Petzoldt of Missouri's Implied Consent Law, and he took a breathalyzer test. He had a 0.087 percent blood alcohol level, according to the statement.

Petzoldt was arrested and charged with assault because the accident resulted in injury. Police included charges of failure to wear a seat belt and careless and imprudent driving involving an accident, but Perry County Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Hoeh elected to pursue only the assault charge.

Petzoldt was taken to the Perry County Jail and released on $10,000 bond.

If convicted, Petzoldt faces up to seven years' incarceration and a fine of up to $5,000.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245