Meerwald served prison time after pleading guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter for hitting Jessica Mann, 7, Joplin, and her grandfather, Jim Dodson, 69, Neosho, with his vehicle and killing them on July 30, 2004.
Meerwald's DWI charge came as a result of a traffic stop June 17 south of Split Log Road and MO 59. According to the probable cause statement, Meerwald was clocked doing 77 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone.
Meerwald told trooper Derek Carnagey he had been to Joplin and was driving to his daughter's home. Carnagey smelled alcohol on his breath and asked if he had been drinking. Meerwald said he had two beers.
"I informed him two beers would definitely not place him anywhere near the legal limit."
According to the statement, Meerwald voluntarily provided a breath sample on the trooper's portable tester. Despite his claim that he had only two beers, Meerwald said he would fail the test. The sample registered .177, more than twice the legal limit.
Because of the test and Meerwald's statements, Carnagey asked him to perform further tests.
"Meerwald claimed he had issues with both feet being previously broken, along with cellulitis in his legs causing swelling."
Carnagey placed Meerwald under arrest and took him to the Pineville Police Department for a chemical breath test.
The second test registered .121.
put him away
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