Joplin woman faces felony charge after driving 60 miles on flat tire in stolen car

A Joplin woman faces a felony charge of tampering in the first degree after being involved in an accident that blocked eastbound I-44 in Phelps County today.

A warrant was issued today for the arrest of Toni A. DeMyers, 42, with bond set at $25,000 cash only.

According to the probable cause statement, a witness told the Highway Patrol Demyers had driven the Kia Optima on a flat tire for approximately 60 miles "and was having issues maintaining a single lane."

Near the 171.6 mile marker, the Kia traveled off the right side of the roadway and collided with the guardrail. The driver overcorrected and struck a tractor trailer that was traveling in the left lane, overtaking the Kia. The Kia came to rest partially in the roadway, facing northeast.

DeMyers initially said she couldn't get to her identification because of the accident, gave the trooper a name, the probable cause statement said, told him her birthday was "January," then offered a corrected version. After checking the information, the trooper was able to determine that she was not who she said she was.

DeMyers was identified through her fingerprints.

The name she initially gave the trooper turned out to be the person who was the rightful owner of the car.

I had Troop I Communications find a phone number for {her} and I contacted her about the car. I informed  {her}I was with Demyers and her vehicle, and she became instantly agitated and was yelling. She confirmed that Demyers did not have authorization to have the Kia, and stated she reported the vehicle as stolen to the Joplin Police Department earlier in the morning.

The Joplin Police Department confirmed the vehicle was stolen.