A driver faces involuntary manslaughter charges following the death of a 17-year-old girl Saturday in a crash southwest of Licking, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
Dead is Kelsie M. Hayes, who was a passenger in a vehicle that ran off Highway BB.
Tpr. S.J. Crewse said a 1993 Mazda MX3 driven eastbound by Austin W. Diedrich, 18, of Licking, ran off the roadway in a curve, overturned several times and struck a tree before coming to rest on its side. The passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected.
Hayes was taken by ambulance to Texas County Memorial Hospital following the 4:50 p.m. crash. She died about an hour later, Crewse said. Diedrich was not injured.
Diedrich faces charges of felony involuntary vehicle manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident, failing to comply with intermediate license and having no seat belt, the patrol said. He is held in the Texas County Jail on $500,000 bond.
Assisting at the scene was Tpr. Marty Wiseman, the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and Sgt. Brian Gruben.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Evans Funeral Home. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.