COLUMBIA — Christian Wyatt, 17, from Jefferson City, flipped his 1999 Nissan Altima after falling asleep at the wheel around noon Wednesday, said a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper.
Traveling northbound on U.S. 63 south of Turkey Creek, Wyatt fell asleep in the far left lane. The car then veered to the right hitting an embankment, which caused the vehicle to overturn, said Tony Helfrecht, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper.
Wyatt said he was on his way to a doctor's appointment.
“Nothing suspicious happened; he just fell asleep,” Helfrecht said.
Wyatt refused medical treatment at the scene of the accident. According to Helfrecht, he was not wearing a seat belt and the airbags did not deploy in his vehicle. He sustained a cut on his forehead.
Wyatt was cited for careless and imprudent driving involving an accident and for not wearing a seat belt.