Branson man charged in alleged driving aggression incident | Local News

A statement on the probable cause of action states that around noon on May 17, 2024, the Missouri State Highway Patrol received a report of a vehicle leaving the scene of a serious accident at the Shell gas station on Route F, east of US 65 in Taney County. The Patrol received several 911 calls from witnesses who reported that a truck collided with a car multiple times and then fled.

When a police officer arrived at the scene, he spoke to three victims from the car and an independent witness to the incident.

The first victim told the officer that he was driving a black Ford Fusion north on Highway 65 when he “accidentally” cut in on a white Toyota Tundra. As the Fusion exited the highway at Route F, the Tundra followed and then struck the left side of the Fusion, forcing it into the guardrail.

A second victim in the car called 911 while the driver was attempting to steer the vehicle into the Shell gas station parking lot. The Tundra accelerated and struck the left side of the car, causing the car to spin before the Tundra fled and the car drove into a parking lot.

Two of the victims were taken to Cox Medical Center Branson for treatment of serious injuries.

The MSHP report states that an independent witness approached a trooper upon arrival to describe what they saw. They said they were “two cars behind the Tundra” and stopped at a red light at the intersection of Route F and East Outer Road 65. He said the Tundra ran the red light and accelerated at the intersection with the Fusion, then collided with it near the gas station.

“He drove completely wrong on a red light to get to them and hit them,” the witness told the police officer.

A second witness called 911 and provided the license plate number of the Tundra. When the investigating officer called the witness, the witness confirmed the first witness’s account, adding that the truck “continued to push the car after it hit it.”

An MSHP officer drove to the address listed on the Tundra’s registration and located the vehicle in the driveway. He then made contact with Schegtz, the vehicle’s registered owner.

The officer wrote that Schegtz admitted to being involved in the incident, including leaving the scene of the accident without contacting police, but claimed he was the victim of the incident. The investigating officer arrived at Schegtz’s residence and confirmed that Schegtz was the man photographed by the driver of the Fusion.

Schegtz later reportedly told police that he had a gun in the car during the incident and that he remembered someone in the Fusion yelling that they had a child in the car.

The police then arrested Schegtz.

Schegtz’s attorney, Scott Hall, told Branson Tri-Lases News that more needs to be disclosed about the incident.

“Otto and his family are productive members of our community,” Hall told Branson Tri-Lakes News. “Otto is considered innocent and I hope everyone will wait to hear the full story of this incident before passing judgment.”

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 16, 2024, in Taney County District Court.