Patrol arrests wrong-way driver in fatal St. Louis County crash

ST. LOUIS COUNTY • The Missouri Highway Patrol says it has arrested a wrong-way driver in connection with a fatal crash on Interstate 55 and Union Road late Saturday.

The patrol's arrest report says Hai M. Pham, 46, of St. Louis, was arrested for DWI and involuntary manslaughter.

The crash happened at about 11:50 p.m. Saturday. Killed in the crash was John D. Casalone, 51, of St. Louis.

Pham was seriously injured in the crash on northbound Interstate 55, just north of Union Road. Pham was treated at St. Anthony's Medical Center in south St. Louis County.

The Missouri Highway Patrol says that Pham was driving a Toyota Sienna minivan south in the northbound lanes of I-55. He was driving in part of two lanes. Pham's car struck an oncoming car head-on. That car, a Toyota Camry, was driven by Casalone. A Mehlville fire department employee pronounced Casalone dead at the scene.

Neither Casalone nor Pham had been wearing a seat belt, the patrol said.

St. Louis Today
stltoday.com
Monday, May 16, 2011 7:20 a.m.