Felony Fleeing Charge Filed After Moscow Mills Pursuit Ends in Rollover
MOSCOW MILLS, Mo. — By the time Lincoln CountyWatch arrived along Route C Sunday morning, a Ford Ranger was lying on its passenger side, emergency crews surrounded the wreckage and traffic had been reduced to one lane.
What unfolded before that scene was a four-minute pursuit that began with a speeding violation on U.S. 61 and quickly escalated, reaching nearly 100 mph as the pickup moved through traffic, crossed into oncoming lanes and narrowly avoided a head-on crash.
The driver is now in custody and facing seven charges, including felony aggravated fleeing.
Zachary Matthew Kirk, Troy, Missouri.
Charges
Aggravated fleeing a stop or detention — Class D felony
Driving while revoked or suspended, first offense — Class D misdemeanor
Operating a vehicle owned by another knowing the owner had not maintained financial responsibility, first offense — Class B misdemeanor
Operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner — Class B misdemeanor
Moving a vehicle from its direct course when the movement could not be made safely — Class C misdemeanor
Failing to drive on the right half of the roadway, causing an immediate threat of an accident — Class C misdemeanor
Driving to the left side of the roadway where the view was obstructed by a hill or curve — Class C misdemeanor
The pursuit began shortly before 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, as a Missouri State Highway Patrol sergeant watched northbound traffic from the Route U overpass.
A gray Ford Ranger approaching the overpass registered 86 mph in a 60-mph zone. The sergeant pulled onto U.S. 61, caught up with the pickup and activated the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights and siren.
For a moment, it appeared the traffic stop was over before it truly began. The Ranger pulled to a stop north of Route U, partially blocking the highway’s right lane—but almost immediately took off again.
The pickup accelerated to approximately 97 mph while continuing north on U.S. 61. It moved in front of another vehicle to reach the Route C exit, then swept onto Route C and continued east through Moscow Mills.
The Ranger reached approximately 64 mph in the 35-mph zone along Route C. At College Campus Drive, it entered the left-turn lane before abruptly cutting back into the eastbound lane ahead of another vehicle.
The pursuit became even more dangerous farther east.
While traveling through a curve in a double-yellow, no-passing area, the Ranger crossed the centerline to overtake traffic. Near Graves Road, it moved into the path of an approaching westbound vehicle and nearly caused a head-on collision. Other motorists were forced toward the side of the roadway as the pickup continued past them.
Its speed eventually climbed to approximately 96 mph—more than 40 mph above the posted limit.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., the trooper used a tactical vehicle intervention to end the pursuit. The maneuver forced the Ranger from the north side of Route C, where it overturned and came to rest on its passenger side near North Shore Lane.
Lincoln CountyWatch arrived as first responders worked the rollover and managed traffic through the area. The overturned pickup remained off the roadway as passing vehicles were directed through one open lane.
The driver was identified as Kirk. A check of his license showed his driving privileges were revoked and revealed an outstanding misdemeanor warrant through the O’Fallon Police Department.
Kirk later acknowledged that he knew his license was revoked and that the Ranger was uninsured.
The outstanding O’Fallon warrant added another piece to the morning’s events. Police there advised the trooper that Kirk had been sought in connection with a separate crash in which a driver reportedly backed into another vehicle and left without providing any information. That collision caused moderate damage to the other vehicle.
Kirk has not been charged with leaving the scene of that crash as part of the Lincoln County case.
A Lincoln County judge issued a warrant the following day and ordered Kirk held on a $20,000 cash-only bond.
Kirk remains in custody. A counsel status hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 24, in Lincoln County Associate Circuit Court.
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Sources
Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation and probable cause statement
Lincoln County Circuit Court arrest warrant
Missouri Case.net, Case No. 26L6-CR00616
Custody records
Lincoln CountyWatch scene coverage and initial traffic alert
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