Richland man charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter after fatal wreck in April

RICHLAND, Mo. — A man from Richland has been criminally charged after his illegal passing on a highway led to a fatal wreck in April.

According to court dockets, William Sivell II, born 2005, is charged with felony first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

He also faces misdemeanor charges of failure to drive on the right half of the roadway, operating a vehicle in a careless manner involving an accident, and driving vehicle to left side of road when view is obstructed by hill or curve.

The probable cause statement says the wreck occurred on April 28 on Missouri Highway 133 near Richland.

A Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) crash investigation revealed Sivell attempted to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone, subsequently striking two other vehicles and causing fatal injuries to one of the other drivers.

On scene, an MSHP trooper asked Sivell what happened, and Sivell stated, "I was passing the van, and I tried to come back into the lane and the van hit me," court documents say. He was tested for alcohol, and the test did not show positive for alcohol.

A witness of the crash told the trooper that as he was coming around the curve, he saw Sivell's truck "come barreling around the corner and lose control," the statement says.

A warrant has been issued for Sivell's arrest.