71 highway closed after pedestrian struck by car

Northbound U.S. 71 highway was temporarily closed Monday night after a pedestrian was struck by oncoming traffic.

Police say at about 7:30 p.m., a silver Chevy Blazer traveling northbound on the highway near East 60th Street struck a pedestrian who was attempting to cross. The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The Kansas City Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit determined the vehicle was in the second lane of the highway when the driver noticed the pedestrian crossing. The driver told the AIS that he could not swerve right due to other vehicles in the lane, and tried instead to swerve left.

In an attempt to avoid being hit, the pedestrian began running across the highway, and was struck by the front right side of the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle was not injured.

This story was originally published October 15, 2018 at 11:04 PM with the headline "71 highway closed after pedestrian struck by car."