City worker killed, 2 others injured after Kansas City trash truck overturns, catches fire
A city worker was killed and two others were seriously injured after a city garbage truck they were in crashed and caught fire Tuesday morning in Kansas City.
“A substantial tragedy here today in Kansas City,” Mayor Quinton Lucas told media in a press conference streamed live on Facebook by KCTV5.
The truck was at the base of the exit ramp to Interstate 435 when it overturned, striking the concrete barrier between eastbound and westbound Front Street, said Sgt. Bill Mahoney with the Kansas City Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit.
It then caught fire. Thick black smoke could be scene coming from the wreck on KC Scout traffic cameras.
The preliminary investigation determined that the driver lost control of the truck before it overturned. The three-member crew were inside the truck when it caught fire.
One of the passengers was killed in the crash, which occurred around 11:30 a.m. The driver and another passenger were taken to the hospital. One was listed in critical condition and the other in serious condition, Mahoney said.
A Kansas City police officer who was passing by helped one of the survivors escape from the burning truck, police said.
“Every day we talk about the very serious work that our employees go out and do and that includes every part of our city operations,” Lucas said. “We are heartbroken today for our employee who has lost their life. We are certainly praying for our other employees and their families.”
Kansas City police were investigating the cause of the crash.
“It is rare that we lose an employee at Kansas City government,” said Lucas, who added that he was saying prayers for the employees and families involved. “It is something that we never wish to see.”
Public Works Director Michael Shaw said during the press conference that he was absolutely devastated.
“I know these guys and their families who were on this truck,” Shaw said. “We go out every single day and as the director, we want to make sure everybody comes home. Today, somebody is not coming home.”
He asked everyone to be with them as they address the crash. He said his team is “absolutely devastated.”
“We’re shook to the core,” he said. “We try to do our jobs and try do it in a way which we can make Kansas City proud. We try to do it in away in which we provide value back to our community and these guys worked very hard.”
Shaw said he didn’t know what happened. He said he’s been with the city for 23 years and never had a fatality. This is the first time it’s happened. The city’s solid waste division has about 180 employees.
The crash forced the Missouri Department of Transportation to close the northbound lanes of the heavily traveled I-435 highway for a while. Traffic was being forced to exit at the Winner Road exit. Drivers were being urged to avoid the area.
The northbound lanes of I-435 reopened about 1:45 p.m. The exit to front street remained closed while the crash was being investigated.
This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 2:20 PM.
