One dead after police chase and crash in Lee’s Summit, Missouri troopers say
A 73-year-old Smithville woman has died after being seriously hurt in a major highway crash in Lee’s Summit that happened as police were in pursuit of another vehicle that crossed the roadway into oncoming traffic and stuck her SUV, authorities said Friday.
Around 12:40 p.m., a westbound 1999 Ford pickup truck crossed the median of U.S. Highway 50 near Milton Thompson Road and crashed into two vehicles headed eastbound. After the pickup struck the other vehicles, it overturned and came to a rest on its top; the SUV carrying the victim who died stopped in the roadway and the other involved car stopped in the grass on the side of the road.
The woman who died has been identified as Patsy S. Arnold by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. She was one of four hurt in the crash Friday afternoon.
Arnold was driving a Ford 2020 Escape and had one passenger in the car, who was taken to the hospital with injuries described as moderate. The drivers of the pickup and the third involved vehicle were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Sgt. Andy Bell, a spokesman for the patrol, said Friday there was “some sort of a pursuit” that appears to have been a factor in the crash but many of the details — including which law enforcement agencies were involved — were still being investigated. Bell said the patrol was not involved in a pursuit.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
This story was originally published June 4, 2021 at 5:05 PM.
