Dump truck driver charged in 9-car pileup that killed 17-year-old Johnson County student
A 50-year-old dump truck driver has been charged in the nine-vehicle crash that killed 17-year-old Shawnee Mission Northwest High School senior Will Ensley in late July, according to court documents.
The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office on Dec. 7 charged Darrin Joseph Boomershine of Independence with one count each of vehicular homicide, no vehicle registration and violation of the motor carrier safety rules and regulations, all misdemeanors.
He was also charged with a traffic violation of following another vehicle too closely for an earlier incident that occurred on June 22.
The fatal crash occurred about 6:45 a.m. July 26 as Ensley of Shawnee was southbound on Metcalf Avenue near West 115th Street.
Boomershine, who also was driving a Kenworth dump truck south on Metcalf, crashed into a line of vehicles that were stopped in front of him. Ensley was critically injured and was taken to a hospital where he died.
The vehicular homicide charge alleges Boomershine operated the dump truck in a manner that “created an unreasonable risk of injury” to others and their property and that deviated from the standard of care a reasonable person would observe under the same circumstances.
Boomershine was booked into the Johnson County jail on Monday and was released a few hours later after posting a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 27.
Ensley was known by his coach and teammates for being a leader in life, academics and athletics, Ryan Lee, Shawnee Mission Northwest head swim coach, said previously.
Ensley competed with the Shawnee Mission Northwest varsity swimming team for two years and placed seventh at Kansas 6A state championships in February 2023, setting a new school record in the breaststroke, according to the school’s athletic website. He also helped manage the girls’ team.
