Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

A Springfield, Missouri car accident last Saturday resulted in the death of four young men. At 4:28pm, a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant, driven by 18 year old James Gangwes, of Springfield, Missouri veered off highway 132 approximately four miles east of Springfield, Missouri in Greene County. Young Kim, 17, James Robinson, 16 and Zachary Whittet, 17, all Springfield residents, were killed.

Trooper McKnight of the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the vehicle hit a tree along the highway. A local radio station, KTTS reported the vehicle was cut in half when it struck the tree, but this has not been confirmed or denied by the highway patrol. Other news medial reported investigators noted speed may have been a factor in this Springfield, Missouri car accident. All of these young adults had their seat belts on.

This, like many other car crashes in Missouri, is a parent's worst nightmare. In my line of work, I deal with tragic events like this on a daily basis. I always ask myself "how did this happen" and "how could it have been avoided"? While many car accidents are a result of a bad choice, like drinking and driving, some are the result of pure coincidence, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, negligence, or carelessness. Some car wrecks happen because of driver inexperience. Many times teens do not fully comprehend dangers that adults readily recognize.

One thing I have noticed over the last few decades is that fewer and fewer Missouri high schools offer a driver education course. I think this is truly unfortunate. In fact, I think driver's education should be a mandatory class in every Missouri high school. Education combined with behind the wheel training would certainly benefit every young driver, their passengers, and other motorists.

Last year, this proposition almost became law. The Missouri Parent Teacher Association backed house bill 609, sponsored by Representative Judy Baker, which required that a mandatory driver's education course be offered in every high school for students 15 and above. This bill also included language that banned cell phone usage by temporary permit or intermediate license holders. This bill gained "do pass" status on April 4, 2007. We will keep an eye on this legislation and will report any further developments.