Highway Patrol seeks person of interest in hit-and-run crash

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is asking the public’s help in finding a Poplar Bluff man suspected of being the driver in an earlier hit-and-ran crash that killed a local woman.

Davis

The crash occurred at about 7:40 p.m. Feb. 4 on Highway 53, about three miles south of Poplar Bluff, and left Wendy L. Dumas, 23, dead.

“Video surveillance from a local business close to the crash scene is being reviewed and a person of interest has been identified as Zack L. Davis,” according to patrol Sgt. Clark Parrott, who indicated the crash was caught “on video.”

The preliminary investigation and evidence at the scene “indicates (Dumas) was walking on the southbound shoulder and was struck by a northbound, white 1999 Oldsmobile Alero,” said Parrott.

Dumas, according to earlier reports, was taken by ambulance to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m. by a doctor there.

Investigators with the patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, Parrott said, having been working on the case all week.

“We got his car in custody … we found his car earlier (last) week; we just can’t find him,” Parrott said.

By putting out information regarding the patrol’s search for Davis, Parrott said, the hope is someone will call with information about his whereabouts or he will turn himself in.

Anyone with information regarding Davis’ whereabouts or with information about the crash is asked to call the patrol at 573-840-9500.