St. Louis Post-Dispatch
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. — A Pacific woman has been indicted in a crash in March that killed an off-duty Eureka firefighter.
Jael M. Clem, 39, of the 2000 block of Green Oak Street, was indicted by a grand jury May 29 on charges of involuntary manslaughter, armed criminal action and misdemeanor child endangerment.
Charges say Clem was driving while intoxicated when she collided with a vehicle driven by off-duty Eureka firefighter Gregory Light on Highway O in Franklin County about 9:45 p.m. on March 7.
Light, 49, of Catawissa in Franklin County, died at the crash scene. The Missouri Highway Patrol said Clem was driving a 2010 Audi Q5 east on Highway O near Jefferson Street when she attempted to pass a vehicle and struck the front of a westbound 2007 Dodge Caliber driven by Light.
Clem’s car flipped over and stopped in the eastbound lanes. Light’s car traveled off the left side of the road.
Clem’s daughter, Yasmin Clem, 11, was a passenger in the car. She was taken to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur for treatment. The Clems were wearing seat belts; Light was not.
According to charges, a state trooper drew Jael Clem’s blood twice at the hospital, the first result being .139 percent, the second being .114 percent.
The limit to drive a vehicle in Missouri and Illinois is .08 percent.
Light, who had served the Eureka Fire Protection District for 27 years, helped train emergency medical technicians and paramedics and served on several local and national committees.
Clem was booked Monday at the Franklin County Jail and was released after posting a surety of a $50,000 bail.
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