Oregon man faces involuntary manslaughter and DWI charges after vehicle flipped near Amazonia
March 18, 2026 | Amazonia, MO
A 51-year-old man from Oregon, Missouri, has been charged in connection with a deadly all-terrain vehicle incident that claimed the life of a 41-year-old woman from Savannah, Missouri. Authorities responded to the scene near Amazonia in Andrew County, where the crash unfolded late in the evening.
The accident occurred when the Polaris RZR driven by Mickey Messick overturned on County Road 396, approximately four miles north of State Route K and two miles southwest of Amazonia. Emergency services arrived shortly after 10:54 p.m., transporting the unidentified woman to Mosaic Life Care in Savannah, where she was pronounced dead just before midnight. She had been wearing a safety belt during the incident.
Mickey Messick, 51, was arrested after allegedly driving under the influence and causing a fatal ATV crash on County Road 396 near Amazonia in Andrew County.
Messick was taken into custody at the scene and later entered a not guilty plea to charges of felony involuntary manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.
What Happened in the Crash?
- Date and Time: March 18, around 10:54 p.m.
- Location: County Road 396, Andrew County, Missouri, near Amazonia
- Vehicle Involved: Polaris RZR ATV
- Victims: One fatality, a 41-year-old woman from Savannah, and the driver was injured but survived
- Agency: Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Charges: Felony involuntary manslaughter, DWI
Details of the Investigation
Troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Messick showed signs of alcohol impairment. Field sobriety tests were administered, followed by a preliminary breath test that measured his blood alcohol concentration at 0.084%. This level exceeds Missouri's legal limit of 0.08% for operating a vehicle.
An ongoing investigation aims to uncover any additional contributing factors beyond intoxication. Such incidents highlight the persistent risks associated with the impaired operation of off-road vehicles, especially in rural areas with uneven terrain.
Why Do These Accidents Happen?
Drunk driving remains a leading cause of fatal crashes nationwide, including those involving ATVs. Factors like reduced reaction times, poor judgment, and loss of vehicle control play critical roles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired driving contributes to thousands of deaths annually.
Statistic |
Value |
Source |
|---|
Daily U.S. drunk-driving fatalities |
Nearly 30 people |
NHTSA |
Frequency of alcohol-related deaths |
One every 50 minutes |
NHTSA |
Annual U.S. drunk-driving crash deaths |
More than 10,000 |
NHTSA |
Common ATV crash causes |
Speeding, impairment, lack of safety gear |
CDC |
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) further emphasizes that ATV accidents often involve reckless behavior, with alcohol as a factor in up to 30% of cases.
Legal Insights
National legal analysts have weighed in on the broader implications of impaired driving crashes, stressing the importance of accountability.
“Separate from criminal charges, a victim’s family may be entitled to compensation through a civil lawsuit against the responsible party,” said Candice Bond, managing partner of Bond Legal and a national analyst for Newsline. “In addition to the diligent work of law enforcement, an attorney can re-interview important witnesses, analyze any surveillance video from the scene of the crash and obtain phone and texting records of the liable party. Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide grieving families during this difficult time, protecting their legal rights while ensuring that drunk drivers are held accountable for their reckless actions.”
Key takeaways from such cases include:
- Families may pursue wrongful death claims for expenses like medical bills, funerals, and emotional losses.
- Civil actions can address negligence from unsafe driving practices, including intoxication.
- Legal representation helps secure evidence and navigate complex proceedings.
“An incident is considered a wrongful death when either a person or entity commits a wrongful or negligent act resulting in a person's death,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel with Bond Legal. “When accident fatalities result from unsafe driving, aggressive or distracted driving, speeding, or driving under the influence, family members are usually left with the option to pursue a civil action against the responsible motorist.”
In cases such as this involving motor vehicle crashes, thorough investigations support both criminal and civil resolutions.
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If you or a family member has been affected by a similar incident, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation. Use the contact information provided on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).