A Park Hill High School senior died in a crash in Farley last week, with police reporting speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.
Tessa Walker, 18, died Sunday, March 22 in the early hours of the morning.
According to the Park Hill School District, Walker was a dedicated student and a talented athlete, active in volleyball, girls’ flag football and track. A dedicated member of the AVID college-readiness program for all four years, her hard work earned her several honors, including academic scholarships from Northwest Missouri State University, the Park Hill Education Foundation and KC Scholars, as well as an A+ Scholarship. She was looking forward to attending Northwest this fall.
“Tessa was special to so many at Park Hill High School; her passing leaves a hole in countless hearts,” teacher and volleyball coach Lindsey Hood said.
Walker
A memorial service celebrating Walker’s life was held Monday, March 30 at Vineyard Church. No formal visitation will be held and urn placement will be private.
While the preliminary cause and circumstances leading to the crash, including the full accident reconstruction, remains under investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Office Crash Team, some preliminary factors have been reported.
“It is believed that excess speed and alcohol were contributing factors to the motor vehicle crash,” according to a press release issued by the sheriff’s office late last week. “Once the full investigation has been completed the information will be forwarded to the Platte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review and consideration of criminal charges.”
At approximately 4:20 a.m. Sunday, March 22, the Platte County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motor vehicle crash on Highway 45 near Main Street in Farley. The preliminary investigation of the crash indicates that a 2024 BMW M4 Sedan was traveling south on Hwy. 45 at more than 100 miles per hour when the driver of the vehicle lost control and the vehicle left the roadway just south of Main Street.
The vehicle overturned after leaving the roadway, came to rest top side up on the west shoulder, and then caught on fire. The driver of the vehicle, Om Patel, an 18-year-old male resident of Riverside, and three other passengers, two of whom are juveniles, including Nyadit Akoi, an 18-year-old resident of Kansas City, received minor to severe injuries. The fourth passenger in the vehicle, Walker, died at the scene.