KU Med staff line halls to honor organ donor, a victim of a suspected DWI collision

A Maryville man who was a passenger in a vehicle struck by a suspected drunk driver at 110 miles per hour has died.

On Friday, doctors at the University of Kansas Medical Center performed Austin Cross’ organ donation surgery.

A video of the 22-year old being wheeled into surgery has been shared more than 2,400 times on Facebook. In the video, doctors, nurses, staff members and Cross’ friends and family line the hallways, touching his body one last time and standing in respect.

Cross, of Maryville, was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a head-on collision on Interstate 29 last Wednesday. He died this week, according to KFEQ-TV.

According to the St. Joseph News-Press, police say 52-year-old Roger Moe hit Cross’ vehicle head-on as he drove north in a southbound land. He had previously been parked the wrong-way at an exit near Highway 71 and Interstate 29 and was fleeing from state troopers responding to calls regarding his illegally parked car.

He hit a median before hitting another vehicle. The driver of Cross’ vehicle had moderate injuries and Cross was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

Moe was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He has since been charged.

A GoFundMe organized to pay his medical expenses will now help fund hospital bills and funeral expenses, an administrator posted. The account had raised $7,300 as of Sunday.

Donations to help with costs can also be sent to P.O. Box 45, Maryville, MO 64468.

This story was originally published October 28, 2018 at 6:35 PM.