Friday, August 04, 2023

Wrongful death lawsuit filed by husband of Oronogo woman killed in crash at 43 and 96


The husband of Sevie Davison, 23, who was killed in a drunk driving accident February 25, 2021 at the roundabout at MO 43 and MO 96, filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court against the driver and the owner of a trailer that was hooked to his car.

Listed as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed by Tyler Davison, are Ryan O'Neal, 46, formerly of Liberal, and John Keeling, Joplin.

O'Neal pleaded guilty February 28, 2022 to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The DWI charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office.







The petition alleges Keeling was negligent in loaning his trailer to a driver who had a reputation for carelessness.

Witness statements include in the probable cause statement detailed that carelessness.

Stephen A. Harrell, Ash Grove, had turned onto 43 from 96 and followed O'Neal, who was driving a white 2002 Chevrolet 2500 through the roundabout.

"He was driving like a maniac and he passed a Suburban in the roundabout. I saw his trailer pop up as he hit the curb in the roundabout."

Kathy Wrensch, Carl Junction, was driving that Suburban.

"I saw a truck coming up extremely fast behind me and I had nowhere to go. I sped up so he would not hit me and then he passed me in the roundabout and I had to take the ditch so he wouldn't hit me. I would be shocked if he was going less than 90 miles per hour.







"I saw him crash into the other vehicle and a big puff of smoke."

Wrensch stopped the Suburban, ran to Sevie Davison and performed CPR.

Hannah Helton, Pittsburg, Kansas, had a clear view of the accident, according to the statement. "I was going north on 43 and was behind her (Davison) and he swerved over and hit the side of her (vehicle). Then his trailer almost hit me and I slammed on my brakes and pulled on the left shoulder."

David Sexton, Carthage, was not at the scene of the accident, but told investigators that O'Neal was driving just as recklessly a few moments earlier.

A search warrant for the event recorder of O'Neal's vehicle, indicated he was driving 84 miles per hour just before the crash.








In the probable cause statement, Highway Patrol Sgt. D. L. Kuechler noted that he interviewed O'Neal just after the crash. O'Neal was complaining about his injuries and asked where his dog was. He said he did not remember how the crash occurred.

The petition asks for an amount in excess of $75,000 and asks for a jury trial.

Tyler Davison is represented by attorney James Franklin Stigall of the Kansas City firm of Stigall Whitworth, LLC.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...


Someone needs to explain to me why the prosecuting attorney pled away the OWI.

This guy will be out in five years, and the odds are much greater than zero that he will commit yet another first offense OWI.


Anonymous said...

I believe they declined prosecution of the DWI in exchange for the guilty plea of involuntary manslaughter, a much higher charge.