Democratic State Senator Chuck Graham was arrested over the weekend on the suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to the Associated Press.
Police say the Columbia Democrat's car rear-ended a vehicle near his home late Saturday night, shoving that vehicle into a third car.
Graham was treated for minor injuries and released. The other drivers were not injured in the crash.
Columbia Police Sgt. Dan Beckman said officers smelled intoxicants on Graham, noticed his eyes were watery and bloodshot and that he slurred his words and mumbled. Beckman said that according to a probable cause statement, Graham acknowledged consuming "a few" beers before driving.
Graham refused to submit to a breathalyzer exam and would not provide a blood sample.
NBC Columbia affiliate KOMU has comments from Republican Majority Leader Charlie Shields: "Obviously this would be an unfortunate incident, however it's one, as the senate, we'd let the courts and the legal system address. Certainly in the history of the legislature there's been cases like this and from time to time these things happen, we don't like to see it, it's a bad reflection of the institution, but ultimately we let the legal system deal with it," Shields said.KOMU also reports it had scheduled an interview with a couple who says they were the driver and passenger of the van Graham's car hit. They later decided not to go on camera, but in a phone conversation they did say the accident was more than a fender bender, the front of Graham's car was smashed and Graham's airbags went off.
According to the Boone County Democrats website, Senator Graham is scheduled to kick off his 2008 campaign with a party and fundraiser this Friday.
Republican blog Missouri Pulse has no mention of the incident as of this posting, while G.O.P. blog The Pulse has the headline: "The Perfect Storm".Look for flurries of follow-ups across the state tomorrow, as well as some sort of story on other lawmakers facing similar charges in the past.
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