LITTLE MOUNTAIN — The autopsy of a toddler killed in a Tuesday morning wreck showed that there was no evidence the child was restrained in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

Newberry County Coroner Laura G. Kneece said Titiyanna Kessler, 4, died from a blunt force injury of the head.

Trooper Joe Hovis with the S.C. Highway Patrol said Shakeera Fantasia Kessler, 17, was driving a 2002 Ford pick-up truck east on U.S. 76 in Little Mountain when the vehicle ran off the left side of the road and hit a sign.

Hovis said she overcorrected and went off the right side of the road, striking a tree. The time of the accident was 7:17 a.m.

Kessler and passenger Andrew Kessler, 50, were also taken to Palmetto Health Baptist with injuries. Both were restrained.

“This is a very tragic incident that could have been avoided. It is very important to restrain your child properly while driving in a vehicle,” Kneece said. “An accident can happen in an instant. There are several agencies, including Newberry County Sheriff’s Department and Kohl’s Buckle Buddies, that will assist in checking your car seats and making sure they are installed properly. Buckle Buddies also has ways to get people access to education as well as discounted rates on car seats.”

The incident remains under investigation by S.C. Highway Patrol and S.C. Highway Patrol Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).

Staff Report