Charges are pending against a suspected drunk driver who T-boned a car in south Springfield. The crash sent Michelle Farr to the hospital and her dog running into a nearby neighborhood.
Once officers arrived at the scene of the crash, Farr says the suspected drunk driver walked over to police and put his hands behind his back. She says finding her dog after the wreck was much more difficult. “The window on my side had broken out and she jumped over my lap,” Farr said. Her frightened dog sprinted away while she helplessly watched. “My leg was trapped under my door handle because the door caved in on me,” Farr said.
Once free from her car, Farr went to the hospital where doctors examined her injuries. “I didn't let any of my family come to the hospital with me. I told all of them to go look for Princesse,” Farr said. “I told them don't come home without her.” Farr bought her dog five years ago. She picked her pet out of the litter. A search of the 2700 block of south Lone Pine Avenue ended with no sign of Princesse. “I just had to know she was okay,” Farr said.
The family made 250 missing posters. The day after the crash they handed one to a postal worker. “We only passed out one of the 250 copies,” Farr said. “It was the best waste of money we've ever spent.” Before they could canvass the neighborhood with flyers, the postal worker found Princesse and kept her in his van until Farr arrived. “Oh it was wonderful it was all I could think about,” Farr said. “All of us were just crying. It was so wonderful – so wonderful.”
According to the police report, alcohol was a factor in the crash. “I saw him lose control of his car he went off down the side of the road. He was fish tailing,” Farr said. “He came right back over onto the road and before I knew he T-boned right into my driver door and all down the driver side of my car.”
According to the police report, the driver hit a nearby fence. His pickup truck came to a stop in a backyard. “I thank God that I'm alive. I go back and I look at the pictures of the car and I'm thankful nobody was hurt in either vehicle, Farr said. She is also thankful just one pink flyer brought her dog back.
The driver was booked in the Greene County Jail on Sunday night. He has since posted bond. KSPR News will release his name when charges are filed.
The family gave the postal worker a reward. He found the dog about three blocks from the crash.
