Texas County Man Enters Guilty Plea In Laclede County D.W.I. Death

A man from a Success in Texas County entered a guilty plea to charges related to a fatal collision caused by drunk driving in Laclede County.

58-year-old Robert Koehler admitted Monday to driving under the influence, leading to one person’s death and causing severe physical harm to another individual. One charge of careless and imprudent driving was dismissed. The incident occurred in May of 2022. Koehler is set for sentencing on March 19.

28-year-old Mary Gladbach, of Shawnee, Kansas, lost her life in the crash while the car’s driver, 29-year-old Joseph Hamamy, of Overland Park, Kansas, sustained serious injuries.

The charges stem from an incident on Highway 32 near B Highway, just east of Lebanon. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Koehler veered across the center line, brushing past a pickup truck before colliding head-on with a small car. Koehler also suffered serious injuries.