Fayette Deputy Injured When Dragged by Car

A Fayette County sheriff's deputy was injured when dragged by a car during a traffic stop.

Deputy Ronnie Stevens had stopped a vehicle along US Route 51 just south of US Route 40 at Vandalia. Stevens approached the vehicle on the driver's side and observed indications of criminal activity while speaking with the driver of the vehicle and two passengers in the unit. 

The driver, 18-year-old Adriana Elaine Brown-Gibson of Springfield, then attempted to flee the scene and caused Stevens to become entangled in the vehicle. Stevens was dragged for an undetermined distance and then fell out of the vehicle. 

Stevens was airlifted from the scene to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He has since been released and is home.

Brown-Gibson was cited for fleeing and eluding an officer, failure to give aid, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, speeding, driver's license not on person, hit and run, reckless driving, aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated assault, obstructing justice, reckless conduct, and possession of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis.

The incident occurred at 6:41pm Tuesday.