Grove woman charged with DWI-death of another for head-on crash that killed Sarcoxie man

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney filed charges today against a Grove, Oklahoma woman who was allegedly driving drunk on Christmas Eve when she caused a head-on collision that killed Tou Xiong, 37, Sarcoxie.

An arrest warrant was issued for Jennifer Lea Maupin, 43, with bond set at $100,000 cash or surety on charges of driving while intoxicated- death of another, a felony, and misdemeanor charges of careless and imprudent driving and speeding.

Oklahoma court records indicate Maupin is currently awaiting trial in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, for assault and assaulting a police officer for crimes that allegedly took place in March and April 2024.J

The Jasper County allegations against Maupin were detailed in the probable cause statement:

On Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at approximately 1500 hours, I was dispatched to an unknown injury motor vehicle crash on Missouri 59 south of Apple Road, in Jasper County, Missouri. I arrived on scene at approximately 1506 hours. Other emergency responders were already on scene. 

I was advised that there were three vehicles involved in the crash and that one of the drivers was deceased. A dark green 2005 Hummer H2 was off the west side of the roadway flipped over onto its top. The Hummer was bearing 2025 Oklahoma registration QDM847. The driver of the Hummer was later identified by a temporary Oklahoma Driver License as Jennifer L. Maupin, a 43 year old White female. Maupin was the registered owner of the Hummer. 

A charcoal-colored 2014 Kia Soul was also off the west side of the roadway and came to rest in a gravel parking lot. The Kia sustained major front-end damage. The driver of the Kia was deceased and entrapped in the vehicle. The driver of the Kia was identified by a Missouri Driver License. The third vehicle that was involved in the crash was a tan 2002 Ford Explorer bearing 2026 Missouri registration I PBK92. The Ford sustained damage on its driver's side. The driver of the Ford sustained minor injuries and was not transported for medical treatment.

 

EMS was treating Maupin in the back of an ambulance when I contacted her. Maupin identified herself to me and told me she was the driver of the Hummer. While I was in the back of the ambulance with Maupin, J could smell the odor of an intoxicating beverage. I began asking her some basic questions to obtain 'her information. I asked her if she had drank any alcohol, and she stated she had not. I asked Maupin to submit to a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT). Maupin refused. 

I left the ambulance for a brief time and then returned. When I returned, Maupin stated again that she would not consent to a PBT. I conducted the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test on Maupin as she was laying on stretcher in the ambulance.

 As I conducted the test on Maupin I observed all six possible clues of nystagmus, as well as vertical nystagmus. At approximately 1528 hours, I placed Maupin under arrest for Driving While Intoxicated.