Wrong-way crash kills one on Independence Avenue in KC’s Northeast
One person died after a head-on wrong-way crash in Kansas City’s Northeast early Saturday morning, police said.
Officers responded around 3:30 a.m. to a crash reported near the intersection of Independence and Jackson Avenues, near the South Indian Mound, Scarritt Point and Lykins neighborhoods, according to a Kansas City Police Department press release.
A silver Chevrolet Malibu carrying a driver and front seat passenger was going west on Independence Avenue when it crossed the double yellow lines into the eastbound lane, according to a preliminary investigation. The Chevrolet collided head-on with a silver Ford Taurus heading east .
All three people involved were transported to a hospital, where the Chevrolet driver was pronounced dead, according to police. The Ford driver and the Chevrolet passenger are currently in critical condition.
The fatal crash is Kansas City’s 65th traffic death this year, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a KCPD spokeswoman. At this time last year, the city had recorded 89 traffic deaths.
This story was originally published December 20, 2025 at 10:52 AM.
