Zalma, Mo., man charged with manslaughter in fatal weekend crash

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Zalma, Mo., man was charged Wednesday with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a weekend crash in which his passenger was killed.

Nickolas J. Jackson, 22, was charged with the Class B felony of first-degree involuntary manslaughter by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn.

After considering the complaint and probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield issued a warrant for Jackson's arrest and set his bond at $125,000 cash.

At press time, Jackson had yet to be arrested on the warrant.

The complaint on file with the court alleges on Friday Jackson, "while under the influence of alcohol in excess of eighteenth-hundredths of 1 percent by weight of alcohol in (his0 blood caused the death of Tommie Bates Jr. by operating a motor vehicle with criminal negligence in that (he) left the traveled portion of the road and struck a tree."

The charge against Jackson stems from an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol into a crash at 9:15 p.m. Friday on Highway 51, which left Bates, 54, of Puxico, Mo., dead.

At the time of the crash, Jackson was "driving a red 1992 Ford pickup southbound on Missouri 51, north of Puxico," Trooper Richard Owens said in his probable cause affidavit. " ... As Jackson entered a curve, he failed to negotiate it.

"The vehicle drove off the right side of the roadway and then back onto the roadway. The vehicle then slid off the left side of the road and struck a tree."

Bates, Owens said, was ejected out the passenger door and killed. Stoddard County Coroner Morgan Sifford pronounced Bates dead at 9:59 p.m.

While on the scene, Owens said, he spoke with Jackson, who reported being the driver of the truck.

"While speaking with him, I noticed his eyes were bloodshot, his speech was slurred and I could smell a strong odor associated with an alcoholic beverage coming from him as he spoke," Owens explained.

Jackson, according to Owens, admitted to drinking alcohol that day.

Owens said he had Jackson perform several field-sobriety tests, including a preliminary breath test, and the results were consistent with signs of intoxication.

At 9:57 p.m., Owens said, he placed Jackson under arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and asked for his consent for a blood test.

"A paramedic at the scene withdrew blood from Jackson," Owens said.

Jackson, who suffered what were described as moderate injuries in the crash, was taken by ambulance to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau for treatment.