Driver charged with DWI following incident

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A Monett woman was killed and Purdy woman arrested following a single-vehicle wreck at 6:19 p.m. on Dec. 29, 2026, on Farm Road 1090, two miles north of Purdy.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, a 42-year-old female, of Purdy, was driving a 1991 Mazda CV southbound when her vehicle struck a pedestrian in the roadway. 

The pedestrian, an 84-year-old female, of Monett, was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:10 p.m. by Barry County Coroner Gary Swearingen. 

The driver was wearing a safety device, and the vehicle sustained moderate damage.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol arrest report, Amberel Macdermant, 42, of Purdy, was arrested at 7:36 p.m. and charged with felony driving while intoxicated (death of another), no valid license and no insurance.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Trooper J. Prater, with the Missouri state Highway Patrol, Macdermant stated she was had not been drinking or was under the influence of any drugs, but said she had smoked marijuana earlier in the day. Prater said Macdermant submitted to field sobriety tests, which she “did poorly on.”

A chemical test of Macdermant’s blood has been submitted to the Troop D crime lab for analysis.

Macdermant, Prater noted, also had five outstanding warrants in Jasper County.

Macdermant is being held in the Barry County jail on no bond. An initial appearance has been held, and a bond heard was held on Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.