Motorcyclist dies after hitting SUV in high-speed crash on I-435 in Kansas City
A motorcyclist died in a three-vehicle crash that closed southbound Interstate 435 in south Kansas City for approximately three hours, a police spokesman said Tuesday.
The crash occurred shortly before 11 p.m. along southbound I-435 near Bannister Road, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino with the Kansas City Police Department.
The motorcyclist, riding a blue Kawasaki, was headed south on I-435 at high speeds when the rider struck the right rear of a white Ford Edge, DiMartino said. The motorcyclist lost control and was thrown from the bike into the guard rail on the west side of the highway just before Bannister Road.
The motorcyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, died at the scene, DiMartino said. A black Toyota Sienna struck the motorcycle as it was coming to rest on the highway.
The driver and passenger in the mini-van had minor injuries but refused treatment. The driver of the Ford was not injured.
All southbound lanes of I-435 were closed for approximately three hours while police investigated the fatal crash.
The motorcyclist’s death is the 50th traffic fatality on Kansas City’s roads and highways so far this year. This year is on pace to set the record as the deadliest year on the city’s streets. The deadliest year was 2020, when 103 people died in traffic crashes, followed by 2023, when 102 people died.
Police say a common theme is playing out with this year’s increase in fatal crashes: excessively high speeds, lack of seat belts and impaired drivers, sometimes all three at once.
This story was originally published July 16, 2024 at 8:47 AM.
