Police: DWI, hit-and-run suspect caught by his own Tesla cameras
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Missouri – A frightening hit-and-run accident on Interstate 55 was solved using the suspect’s vehicle cameras, according to police and prosecutors. Court records show the trail of evidence begins with video of the suspect stumbling into his car before the crash.
Two accidents were reported on December 2, 2022 at around 9 p.m. A Tesla driver reportedly collided with an SUV on I-55 near Lindbergh and drove away. According to a report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Tesla then crashed into another SUV, causing it to roll over.
An accident report released immediately after the accidents listed the Tesla driver as “unknown.” Court documents say witnesses “observed a white male suspect get up from the driver’s seat and hobble away.”
No one knew yet, but the suspect’s Tesla had already recorded everything investigators needed to make an arrest.
“As technology advances, so do our investigative skills and techniques,” said Corporal Dallas Thompson.
Court documents show that all of the evidence came from multiple cameras, which are in Tesla’s standard. A statement of probable cause lists evidence such as: “Dated and timestamped video showing the defendant exiting the main entrance of a restaurant on the evening of the incident.” The defendant stumbled and staggered as he got up just before the motor vehicle crashed getting into his vehicle off I-55. Also, he almost fell over and crashed into a parked car.”
Other alleged video evidence listed in the court filings includes:
- “Travelling On and Off Road”
- “Follow other vehicles too closely”
- “On the data recorder was a video of the collision with a Toyota and leaving the scene of the accident.”
“People might think they’re getting away with a crime, but there’s a good chance we’ll uncover some kind of video through our investigation,” Thompson said.
However, the suspect in this case appeared surprised when FOX 2 contacted them for comment on the charges just filed, about eight months after the incident. Ryan Benjamin Horrell, 48, claimed not to know what we were talking about when we visited his St. Peters address listed in the indictment. He took the court papers that we had to show him, didn’t return them and then locked his door.
Court filings indicate this is the defendant’s fourth DWI arrest. The current charges against Horrell relate to serious intoxication at the scene of an accident and aggravated leaving the scene.
