A Kansas City man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after a multi-vehicle crash that left a 67-year-old man dead, court records reveal.
Te’Ron Darnell Chappell, 18, was speeding while driving a Dodge Avenger on April 15, 2023, when the accident occurred, according to the charges filed in Jackson County court on Monday. He was reportedly taking an injured friend to the hospital when his car collided with several vehicles, resulting in the death of another driver.
The crash happened around 12:15 a.m. on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, as Chappell was traveling west with four passengers. As he approached Eastwood Trafficway, he struck a tow truck attempting a U-turn with its emergency lights on, according to court documents.
The tow truck was there to assist a maroon Kia SUV, which had broken down in the turn lane, Kansas City police reported.
After hitting the tow truck, Chappell continued driving but soon crashed head-on into a white Cadillac Seville waiting to turn left from the eastbound lane of MLK Boulevard. The impact sent Chappell’s Dodge sliding, hitting the Kia and a gold Pontiac minivan before coming to a stop, according to the documents.
The Cadillac’s driver, 67-year-old Larry McDonald, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chappell and his passengers sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized. The other individuals involved in the crash declined medical treatment.
McDonald, a father of four and a grandfather, was deeply involved in the Greater Pentecostal Temple in Kansas City, Kansas. His son, Anthony McDonald, shared a heartfelt message online after his passing, writing, “I love you, Daddy. We will see each other again.”
Tributes from friends, including congregation member Anthony Clark Jr., praised McDonald as a positive role model and motivator for younger community members.
Chappell, a recent North Kansas City High School graduate, told police that one of his passengers had been shot earlier that night. He said they were rushing the wounded juvenile to the hospital at the time of the crash. The juvenile later confirmed that he had been shot by a motorcyclist while driving a Nissan Altima, before being picked up by Chappell.
At the time of the incident, Chappell had an intermediate driver’s license, which allowed him to drive but restricted him from carrying more than three passengers, a rule he was violating during the crash.
If convicted, Chappell could face up to four years in prison, according to court records.