Accident early New Year’s Day morning in Springfield injures passenger

An early-morning accident on New Year’s day has resulted in serious injuries to a woman from Springfield and a driver under arrest for suspected D.U.I.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the accident took place just before 2 a.m. on Highway 413 in Springfield when a car driven by 23-year-old Benson L. Rousseau was traveling on the wrong side of the roadway, struck a guardrail, left the road. and hit a utility pole.

Rousseau was not injured but a passenger in the car, 23-year-old McKayla A. Johnson of Springfield suffered serious injuries.

Rousseau was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence.