WELDON SPRING — Investigators believe an off-duty suburban St. Louis police officer was drinking before a crash early Saturday that killed four people.
The officer was identified as 41-year-old Chrissy Miller, an officer with the Sunset Hills Police Department.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Miller was driving in the wrong lane at an intersection when her car struck a 1997 Honda with five people inside.
Satya S. Chinta, 25, of Aurora, Ill., as well as Anusha Anumolu, 23, Anita Lakshmi, 23, and Pyra Muppvarapu, 22, all of Charleston, Ill., died instantly, according to the online crash report. The Honda driver, Nitesh Adusumilli, 27, of Ballwin, was listed in critical condition. His condition has since been upgraded to moderate. Miller is listed as being in serious condition.
None of the four deceased were wearing safety belts, according to the online crash report.
The Highway Patrol did not say why they believe alcohol was involved, but Sunset Hills police said drinking and driving would be out of character for Miller, a single mother with one son.