St. Louis Police Officer hit and killed by speeding DWI suspect - and it was another illegal immigrant

ST. LOUIS, MO - St. Louis Police Officer David Lee, 44, was killed on Sunday morning when he was struck by a vehicle driving on Interstate 70 while responding to an accident involving an off-duty Fergusen firefighter. 

According to KSDK, Lee, an 18-year veteran officer was struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by 24-year-old, illegal immigrant Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez at approximately 8:30 a.m. St. Louis police spokesperson Mitch McCoy explained that Lee "was in the process of establishing flares and trying to set up some type of system to allow people to know there was an active scene at that location. While he was doing that, (he) got hit by a car."

St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy told reporters that the off-duty firefighter attempted to render aid to Lee at the risk of her own life. “She got on his radio, asking for help. An officer-in-need-of-aid call was dispatched. St. Louis firefighters arrived on the scene and rushed Officer Lee to Saint Louis University Hospital,” Tracy said. Lee later succumbed to his injuries.
 

It is with heavy hearts that we share Police Officer David Lee has died. pic.twitter.com/hdbMhKpia3

— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) September 22, 2024

In a later report, KSDK reported that Chavez-Rodriguez was arrested after being detained at the scene of the accident that claimed Lee's life. Prosecutors in St. Louis have charged him with DWI charges as well as speeding, he was allegedly clocked driving 71MPH in a 55MPH zone before losing control of his vehicle in a spin. 

Court documents revealed that Chavez-Rodriguez's out-of-control vehicle pinned Lee between it and the firefighter's vehicle before throwing him several feet away. The suspect's blood alcohol content was read at .10, well above the .08 legal limit over two hours after the accident. He is currently being held without bond.

Prosecutors revealed that in previous charges Chavez-Rodriguez pled guilty to driving while intoxicated and second-degree assault in 2020 in which he reportedly assaulted a woman and threatened to strike her with his car.

St. Louis Police released a statement via Facebook post, “We are devastated over the loss of our beloved colleague. Please pray for Officer Lee’s family, friends, and the entire SLMPD and St. Louis community.”