A Columbia man was sentenced to two years of unsupervised probation and 75 hours of community service in connection with a car crash in Cole County.
Ashton Kramme, 18, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance at a county jail, operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner and DWI. A charge for failing to register his vehicle was dropped.
He was also sentenced to two days in jail, starting March 22.
According to the probable cause statement, Kramme attempted to abruptly take an exit to Highway 50 West shortly after noon Nov. 3 and struck and overturned a box truck in the process. A witness said Kramme had driven at varying speeds, hadn't maintained his own lane and had nearly caused other crashes. Officers said Kramme had glassy and bloodshot eyes when they spoke with him.
He had trouble maintaining his balance through a sobriety test and, after being taken into custody, admitted he had consumed two THC-infused chocolate bars earlier in the day, according to the statement. An e-cigarette containing THC was also found on his person at the Cole County jail; he said he had been using it just prior to the crash.
CORRECTION: This article was edited at 10:52 a.m. March 14, 2023, to correct the date of the crash.