SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI — With heavy hearts, the Springfield community is mourning the tragic loss of Tesia Ta, 34, who died following a two-vehicle crash Wednesday night, September 2, 2026, at the intersection of Kearney and Benton.

According to the Springfield Police Department, officers responded to the collision at approximately 10:48 p.m. The crash involved a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse and a 2008 Mercedes-Benz.

Police said Kayle Moore, 27, of Springfield, was driving the Chevrolet Traverse eastbound on Kearney. Moore turned left into a business in the 400 block of East Kearney, crossing into the path of the westbound Mercedes-Benz driven by Marquis Starks, 25, of Springfield.

Tesia Ta was a passenger in the Chevrolet Traverse. Following the collision, she was taken to a hospital for emergency treatment. Despite medical efforts, she later died from the injuries she suffered in the crash. Her family has been notified.

Both drivers were also transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities have said that speeding and impairment by Starks are suspected factors, though the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation.

Tesia’s death marked Springfield’s 12th fatal motor vehicle crash of 2026, bringing the city’s total number of traffic deaths this year to 13. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a circle of loved ones whose lives are forever changed.