26 year-old Gregory Swaffar has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of assault for the fatal head-on car accident near Butterfield, Missouri last weekend.  The fatal car accident took place on Missouri highway 37 in Butterfield, when Swaffer crossed the centerline of the road and struck another vehicle head on in the late evening hours last Saturday.  Kenneth Keif and Melissa Keif were the victims in the vehicle that Swaffar struck head-on.  Both Kenneth and Melissa were transported by air to Cox hospital in Springfield.  Melissa ultimately did not survive the horrific impact.  Our prayers are with the Keif family.

Swaffar was found to be intoxicated at the time of this crash and has a history of like conduct behind the wheel.  DUI and texting while driving account for a high percentage of Missouri's fatal head-on car accidents.  Crossing the centerline of traffic is a common result from this type of poor judgment.  It kills people and ruins the lives of the surviving family members. 

Swaffar will have to face the three pending criminal charges against him.  He will likely face civil charges as well, for negligence, punitive damages, and wrongful death.  A jury of his piers will find it difficult to offer Swaffar any kind of mercy given his prior conduct.  Defendants with similar pending civil charges typically admit liability, however, with an active punitive damages count, a Missouri car accident lawyer will still be able to discuss his conduct.

Missouri personal injury lawyers are hired to hold negligent or reckless drivers accountable for their actions.  Filing a personal injury claim against the party that caused you harm sends a message to other careless drivers.  It operates as a deterrent for this kind of conduct.