Wrong-way Driver From Marshall Arrested After Hitting Mitsubishi Head-on

On Wednesday at 11:17 p.m., Saline County Dispatch advised Pettis County Joint Communications of a wrong-way driver who was southbound on US 65 in the northbound lanes of traffic.

As deputies responded, the vehicle was located driving head on towards a deputy; radar indicated the vehicle was traveling 90 mph.

The deputy evaded imminent collision as the second responding officer pulled to the side of the road. The vehicle, a 2005 GMC Yukon, was still southbound in the northbound lanes.

The second responding deputy successfully deployed stop sticks near the intersection of US 65 and HH, disabling three of the four tires. The vehicle continued traveling south as deputies pursued from the southbound lanes. The Yukon began to slow down due to the condition of the tires, but continued onto Highway 765 at which time it struck, head-on, an occupied, northbound 2005 Mitsubishi Montero.

Deputies responded to both the driver of the fleeing GMC Yukon, identified as 32-year-old Lauren Elizabeth Ngaue, of Marshall, and driver of the Montero. Ngaue was removed from the vehicle, handcuffed and later transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center for medical treatment and fit-for-confinement evaluation due to suspected intoxication, according to Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders.

The driver of the Montero, a 37-year-old woman, was initially pinned inside the vehicle with visible injury, but was later extracted by deputies. She was then transported to Bothwell by PCAD for medical treatment.

Upon release, Ngaue was transported to the Pettis County Jail where she was booked with the following charges being sent to the prosecutor’s office:

2nd degree Assault, Resisting Arrest by Flight Creating Substantial Risk of Serious Physical Injury or Death, Driving While Intoxicated With Serious Physical Injury as well as Several Traffic Violations.