2 dead, pedestrian missing in rubble after SUV, Kansas City fire truck crash in Westport
Update: Moments before the crash that killed three people in Westport, the Kansas City fire truck was told to “stand down.” Read that story here.
Two people have died and a pedestrian is feared to be buried under rubble after a SUV and Kansas City fire truck crashed into a building Wednesday night in the Westport Entertainment District, according to police.
The two people killed were inside a Honda SUV that collided with the fire truck. The pedestrian was struck during the collision and is believed to be under the debris from the partially collapsed building, said Capt. Leslie Foreman, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department.
Broadway will remain closed between 40th Street and Westport Road because the danger posed by the building, which has been deemed unsafe, she said. The crash caused extensive damage to the building, making it unstable.
The crash occurred shortly before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday as the fire truck headed north on Broadway on an emergency call. It’s lights and siren were activated, Foreman said.
The Honda SUV was headed west on Westport Road when the two vehicles collided. The force of the crash redirected both vehicles to the northwest, where they struck a pedestrian on the sidewalk before slamming into the building at 4048 Broadway, police said.
A large number of emergency vehicles descended upon the scene of the crash. Many remained at the scene overnight as police blocked off several streets surrounding the district. Firefighters could be seen going through the rubble. No firefighters were injured in the crash.
The fire pumper truck and the Honda were pulled from the building using a winch early Thursday revealing that two deceased people were inside the Honda, Foreman said. Police said the driver was a woman.
The female pedestrian was still believed to be under the debris from the partially collapsed building, she said.
Heavy damage occurred at the part of the building once home to the Riot Room, a bar and music venue that only recently closed its doors. The building currently houses office spaces, though police believe it was unoccupied at the time of the crash.
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 7:58 AM.
