Monett police car damaged by passing vehicle

A Monett police vehicle was apparently crushed by a trailer hauled by an unlicensed driver from Tulsa, Okla., in an incident on May 20. 

According to a police report, the patrol vehicle in the southbound lane of the Hwy. 37 viaduct near the intersection with Hwy. 60 was sitting in place when a trailer, hauled by a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado, turned north off of Hwy. 60 onto the viaduct. The driver of the Chevrolet, Nelson Molena, 28, of Tulsa, lost control of his car and skidded. The trailer hauled by Molena then overturned onto the police car and another civilian vehicle. 

Molena was arrested as an unlicensed operator. Police determined he had been driving at excessive speeds while making the turn when hauling heavy machinery. He was released with a summons to municipal court, with additional charges of alleged carless and imprudent driving and failure to drive on the right side of the road. 

No injuries resulted from the incident. Both the police car and the trailer equipment sustained extensive damage and were towed from the scene.