New Missouri law requires drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent

Photo caption: A new Missouri law makes drivers who kill a parent in an alcohol-related crash liable for child support for the surviving children. Photo credit: Darlene Alderson via Pexels. Article by Leore Tal. Columbia Missourian – July 16, 2026.

In the spring of 2021, Cecilia Williams lost her son, daughter-in-law and grandson to a drunken driver. Williams, who lives in Bonne Terre, is now raising the two orphaned grandchildren who survived, Bentley and Mason. A year later, Melanie Wankum was hit head-on by a drunken driver, killing her instantly and injuring a passenger on their way back from a wedding. In both tragedies, families of the victims became advocates on their behalf, championing tougher laws in Missouri against drunken driving. […]

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