2 Kansas City-area women face charges after MSHP trooper struck, seriously injured

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two women face charges after a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper was struck just after midnight Wednesday.

Erika Guerrero-Chavez, of KCK, is charged with second-degree assault, and Ashton Berry, of KCMO, is charged with second-degree assault and possession of a controlled substance.

Clay County Sheriff's Office

The trooper first pulled over Guerrero-Chavez for driving 96 mph in a 55 mph zone, per a court document

During the stop, the trooper began a DWI investigation. But when the trooper went to handcuff Guerrero-Chavez, she resisted.

Once inside the patrol vehicle, Guerrero-Chavez escaped and tried to run back to her car, but the trooper intercepted her.

The struggle continued as the trooper worked to secure Guerrero-Chavez in his patrol vehicle again, which was when he was struck by Berry.

Berry drove her Ford Focus northbound, eventually stopping along the right shoulder.

Officers then made contact with her and took her to a nearby hospital to address any injuries.

At the hospital, she told officers she did not remember the crash; the last thing she remembered was looking at the Denny's on the east side of I-35 just north of Missouri 210.

Crash data showed she was speeding before the impact with no braking input, per a court document.

One gram of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe were recovered from a subsequent search of Berry's vehicle, a court document stated.

In a later interview with detectives, Guerrero-Chavez admitted she had consumed alcohol earlier in the night. She also said she should not have been speeding, but "it was not like close to 100."

MSHP reported initially that the trooper was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. Thursday, a spokesperson for the agency said the trooper is conscious and in good spirits, but his “life has been altered forever.”

“The road to recovery for him will be extensive,” MSHP Cpl. Justin Ewing said during a press conference Thursday.

KSHB 41

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson also spoke at the news conference. He said this case is a reminder of the importance of moving over for emergency vehicles and proceeding with caution.

Guerrero-Chavez and Berry are in custody at the Clay County Detention Center and are each being held on a $200,000 bond. They will both make their first appearances Thursday.

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