Tesia Ta Killed in Springfield Car Accident
Passenger dies after SUV turns into path of oncoming car on East Kearney Street
Tesia Ta, 34, of Springfield was killed in a two-vehicle crash on East Kearney Street on Sept. 2, according to the Springfield Police Department.
An eastbound 2013 Chevrolet Traverse attempted a left turn into a business parking lot and crossed directly into the path of a westbound 2008 Mercedes-Benz. The vehicles collided in the 400 block of the road at approximately 10:48 p.m. Ta, a passenger in the Chevrolet, was taken to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Both drivers — a 27-year-old woman operating the SUV and a 25-year-old man driving the sedan — were hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Investigators suspect the driver of the Mercedes-Benz was speeding and impaired at the time of the collision.
The wreck adds to a rising statewide toll, as Missouri recorded 991 traffic death in 2023, according to the state's Department of Transportation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
While police reconstruct the exact sequence of events on East Kearney Street, independent investigations often reveal overlapping factors such as right-of-way violations and excessive speed.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Modern vehicles now store enormous amounts of data before a crash happens, capturing speed, braking, and steering input in the seconds leading up to impact, offering powerful clues about what went wrong."
"Surviving relatives rarely realize such data exists, so a legal team moves quickly, securing event recorder downloads before anything gets erased or overwritten," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Why do left-turn collisions occur on East Kearney Street?
Left-turn crashes frequently happen when a driver misjudges the speed or distance of oncoming traffic. When an oncoming vehicle is traveling above the posted speed limit, the available time to complete a safe turn is drastically reduced, often resulting in severe side-impact or head-on collisions.
How does suspected impairment affect crash mechanics?
Alcohol or drug impairment significantly delays a driver's reaction time and impairs spatial awareness. In scenarios involving sudden obstacles, an impaired driver is less likely to apply brakes effectively or take evasive action, increasing the force of the impact.
Missouri wrongful death statute
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Missouri applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and aggravating circumstances damages.
"Driver intoxication or reckless speed resulting in passenger death requires delicate legal and insurance claim management," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "A legal team assists surviving relatives by monitoring criminal proceedings, obtaining official toxicology reports, and securing financial benefits through available vehicle auto insurance policies."