Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri
End of Watch: Friday, January 18, 2002
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: 1191
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: January 18, 2002
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 7 years
Trooper Kelly Poynter was struck and killed by a drunk driver while working an accident scene on U.S. Route 63 in Texas County, Missouri.
The 39-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck Trooper Poynter was intoxicated and driving at a high rate of speed. She was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. The suspect was sentenced to 7 years but released after serving a court ordered 120 days for completing an alcohol treatment program. The judge in the case set the sentence up this way because the drivers blood alcohol level was 0.07. In Missouri it has to be a 0.08 or more to be legally under the influence.
Trooper Poynter had served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for six years. He is survived by his wife and two young sons.