By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – A 44-year-old suspected thief has been charged with second-degree murder for causing a wreck that killed a suburban fire chief.
Claudex Simmons of Jennings was also charged today with armed criminal action, resisting by flight, stealing and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Affton Fire Protection District chief Jerry Buehne was driving to work Thursday morning when his car was struck by a car allegedly driven by Simmons.
Police were trying to pull over Simmons, who was suspected in a theft from a Walgreen's store moments earlier.
But authorities said they were not chasing Simmons' car.
Simmons was ejected from his car and hospitalized in serious condition.