Full Breakdown
Missouri Teen Killed After Deputy’s Vehicle Strikes Her on Rural Road
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In the early hours of Saturday, a St. Francois County sheriff’s deputy responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive person on Davis Crossing Road near Leadwood, Missouri. While approaching, the deputy failed to see 16-year-old Persephone Berger lying in the road and struck her with his patrol car. Berger was pronounced dead at the scene. The deputy sustained minor injuries, remained at the scene, and notified a supervisor.
Data & Statistics
- Time: approximately 3:40 a.m.
- Location: 5400-block of Davis Crossing Road, St. Francois County, Missouri
- Victim: Persephone Berger, 16
- Deputy: unnamed, about 23, three months on the force (family statements)
- Autopsy: preliminary exam showed injuries consistent with being struck by the vehicle; no prior injuries detected.
- Investigations: sheriff’s detectives are leading; Missouri State Highway Patrol will conduct an independent crash investigation. Toxicology and final autopsy results are pending.
Official Statements & Responses
Sheriff Jeff Crites said deputies were dispatched after a caller remained at the scene with hazard lights on. He noted the deputy stayed, notified a supervisor, and that no deputies left the scene. He called rumors of a pursuit or fleeing “false social-media information.” The department said the reason Berger was in the roadway is “unknown” and under investigation. The Highway Patrol confirmed it will conduct an independent investigation.
Community Reaction (On-the-Ground Reports)
Students at West County High School held a candlelit vigil, wearing pink in Berger’s memory. Friends described her as “a really lively, understanding person.” The community organized a T-shirt fundraiser and a GoFundMe page for Berger’s family.
Criticism & Opposition
Kimberly Cabuchola, a relative, criticized the sheriff’s office for delayed communication, saying the family was first contacted three days later by the coroner rather than law-enforcement officials.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Social-media posts suggested the deputy was involved in a pursuit or left the scene; the sheriff’s office has publicly refuted those claims. Investigators have not determined why Berger was on the roadway before deputies arrived.
Verbatim Quotes
- “While approaching [the scene], the Deputy did not see the [girl] in the roadway and subsequently struck [her],” — Sheriff Jeff Crites
- “She was just a really lively, understanding person. She never judged a soul. She was just a really sweet person,” — Emma Houser
What’s Next
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s independent investigation will examine crash dynamics, the deputy’s actions, and the circumstances that placed Berger in the roadway. Final toxicology results and the completed autopsy report are expected later this month.