A judge on Friday sentenced a 19-year-old to three years in state prison for racing down Interstate 70 last January and causing a crash that killed Greg Hawley, co-founder of the famous Steamboat Arabia Museum.
Hawley, 50, was on his way home to his awaiting family in Independence. He died hours after the crash.
Jackson County Circuit Judge John Torrence sentenced Edward D. Tseona, of Hughesville, Mo.
State prison officials will file a report to Torrence 90 days from now and recommend, based on good behavior, if Tseona should be eligible for early release, Torrence said.
Tseona pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter when he was racing another car down I-70 on Jan. 10, 2009. Tseona was driving a red 2005 BMW M3. He struck Hawley’s Ford F-150 near the Lee’s Summit Road exit.
Hawley’s truck rolled over multiple times.
“This involved a conscious and intentional disregard for the health and life of other people who were driving down the road,” Torrence told the teenager before sentencing.
Tseona was not drunk or high on drugs when the crash happened.
But that made the situation worse, Torrence said, because he had a clear mind of what he was doing.
A state sentencing report recommended Tseona be placed on probation. His attorney, Russell Little, asked Torrence to place Tseona on five years of supervised probation, have his license suspended for another year (he hasn’t been driving since the accident), and do community service.
Torrence said it’s important to “structure a sentence that will serve as a deterrent to other drivers” who may think about duplicating the actions of Tseona.
Whether Tseona re-offends was not a major consideration to Torrence.
What is in play, Torrence said, is maintaining safety and “basic rules of the road.”
“The court is troubled by the circumstances surrounding this accident,” he said.
Jackson County Assistant Prosecutor Traci Stansell asked the judge to impose a seven-year sentence.
She asked how can we protect people from all the other Edward Tseonas of the world?
“We can’t,” Stansell said.
What do we tell our children, Stansell asked. Don’t talk to strangers. When you get in your vehicle, wear your seat belt.
But what do we tell them about drivers on the road who drive carelessly and recklessly, like Tseona displayed that day.
She said everyone on the highway that day was at risk and only one life was lost that day. Tseona was uninjured.
“I understand my actions were wrong,” Tseona told the judge. “I wish there was something I could do to help you guys. I’m so sorry.”
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A judge on Friday sentenced a 19-year-old to three years in state prison for racing down Interstate 70 last January and causing a crash that killed Greg Hawley, co-founder of the famous Steamboat Arabia Museum.
Hawley, 50, was on his way home to his awaiting family in Independence. He died hours after the crash.
Jackson County Circuit Judge John Torrence sentenced Edward D. Tseona, of Hughesville, Mo.
State prison officials will file a report to Torrence 90 days from now and recommend, based on good behavior, if Tseona should be eligible for early release, Torrence said.
Tseona pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter when he was racing another car down I-70 on Jan. 10, 2009. Tseona was driving a red 2005 BMW M3. He struck Hawley’s Ford F-150 near the Lee’s Summit Road exit.
Hawley’s truck rolled over multiple times.
“This involved a conscious and intentional disregard for the health and life of other people who were driving down the road,” Torrence told the teenager before sentencing.
Tseona was not drunk or high on drugs when the crash happened.
But that made the situation worse, Torrence said, because he had a clear mind of what he was doing.
A state sentencing report recommended Tseona be placed on probation. His attorney, Russell Little, asked Torrence to place Tseona on five years of supervised probation, have his license suspended for another year (he hasn’t been driving since the accident), and do community service.
Torrence said it’s important to “structure a sentence that will serve as a deterrent to other drivers” who may think about duplicating the actions of Tseona.
Whether Tseona re-offends was not a major consideration to Torrence.
What is in play, Torrence said, is maintaining safety and “basic rules of the road.”
“The court is troubled by the circumstances surrounding this accident,” he said.
Jackson County Assistant Prosecutor Traci Stansell asked the judge to impose a seven-year sentence.
She asked how can we protect people from all the other Edward Tseonas of the world?
“We can’t,” Stansell said.
What do we tell our children, Stansell asked. Don’t talk to strangers. When you get in your vehicle, wear your seat belt.
But what do we tell them about drivers on the road who drive carelessly and recklessly, like Tseona displayed that day.
She said everyone on the highway that day was at risk and only one life was lost that day. Tseona was uninjured.
“I understand my actions were wrong,” Tseona told the judge. “I wish there was something I could do to help you guys. I’m so sorry.”
