Police identify man killed in vehicle crash near Swope Park in Kansas City

Police have identified a 29-year-old man who died early Thursday in a single-vehicle accident near Swope Park as Steven Counts of Raytown.

The crash happened about 2:45 a.m. along Oldham Road near East 79th Street. Counts was driving white Chevrolet Suburban south on Oldham Road at a high rate of speed when he lost control and the vehicle went off the roadway, striking a utility pole. The vehicle was sheared into two pieces and flipped over, ejecting the driver.

Counts, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Police are investigating whether Counts was driving impaired.

Robert A. Cronkleton, bcronkleton@kcstar.com and Glenn E. Rice, grice@kcstar.com

This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 7:50 AM.