Fatal crash kills 17-year-old after traffic stop on KC-area highway: Police
An Oak Grove teenager died while trying to cross Interstate 70 after a traffic stop Thursday night, according to the Independence Police Department.
Officers attempted to stop a 2012 Ford Fusion around 8:45 p.m. for several traffic violations, according to a news release from Independence police. The Ford Fusion began merging toward the shoulder of the road and was nearly hit by a semi truck yielding to a police car with its lights on, police said.
The Ford Fusion then pulled away from the shoulder and continued driving east. The car then pulled over to the shoulder again after an Independence police car was able to get back behind the vehicle, a news release said.
After the Fusion came to a stop, two of its occupants fled the scene on foot, police said. One person fled across several lanes of traffic on I-70 and was hit by a westbound vehicle.
According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, a 2024 Ford Bronco drove west on I-70 around 8:46 p.m. when it struck a 17-year-old pedestrian in the road.
The 17-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
Independence police said its officers did not engage in a police chase during the incident.
An investigation is ongoing by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
