KC dentist sees ‘outpouring of support’ after truck slams into practice. Watch video
Ed Hendricks, a northeast Kansas City dentist, was asleep when he got a call early Wednesday morning, informing him that a pickup truck had crashed into his practice of 50 years.
The Kansas City Fire Department was called to 4601 Independence Ave around 3:14 a.m., where they found a truck had crashed into the building. Those who were in the vehicle fled the scene on foot, according to a KCFD news release.
A security video of the crash shows the truck careering at a high speed into the building, seriously damaging both the building and the vehicle. While no injuries were reported, it’s not known if the driver of the vehicle or any passengers were hurt.
Kansas City police have also not confirmed whether the driver has been identified, or if they’ll face charges.
By the time Hendricks got to the scene at 6:30 a.m., the hole had been boarded up and the pickup truck had been towed.
Credit for the quick response, according to Hendricks, goes to the maintenance worker at the neighboring KC Health Care Clinic.
“I can’t say enough good things about (their) efforts to be on scene and take charge and get things moving in the direction of remedying the mess,” he said.
Glass and brick still littered the sidewalk in front of J. Edward Hendricks DDS as of mid-morning Wednesday.
The truck hit Hendricks’ supplies closet. According to him, their cabinetry and shelving inside were damaged, supplies strewn across the floor. KC Health Care Clinic’s reception room was also damaged by the impact.
This isn’t the first time the building has been struck by a vehicle, according to Hendricks, who said another car drove into it on New Year’s Eve 12 years ago and caused significant damage to the brick.
Hendricks owns the building and has been head of the practice since 1975. His father preceded him there in the early 1960s.
“I really love dentistry, I love providing care to people and being a dentist, that’s my identity,” he said, adding he plans to continue serving the community until he physically can’t.
When he first joined the practice in 1975, there were eight private practice dentists in the neighborhood. Now, he said, he’s the only one. He said he’s determined to continue being embedded in the community and serving their dental needs, despite this setback.
“I’m so grateful for the outpouring of support this morning,” he said. “Our phone has been ringing off the hook with people concerned and expressing their well wishes for us in this particular time.”
