Johnson County man sentenced to prison in fatal hit-and-run crash in downtown KC
A 33-year-old Lenexa man was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to a fatal hit-and-run crash in downtown Kansas City earlier this year.
Tyler J. Macias pleaded guilty last week to one count each of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in the death of Michael G. Babbitt, a 42-year-old attorney from Chicago.
Jackson County Judge Bryan E. Round sentenced Macias to four years in prison on the manslaughter conviction and seven years for leaving the scene of a fatal crash. The judge ordered the sentences to be served concurrently, meaning Macias will serve both sentences at the same time, for a total of seven years in prison.
According to charging documents, police responded about 8 p.m. on Feb. 3 to an injury crash involving a pedestrian at East 12th Street and Grand Boulevard. There, they found Babbitt, who was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Surveillance video from nearby apartments showed Babbitt carrying two white plastic grocery sacks and walking west to east in the crosswalk at Grand and 12th Street. As Babbitt reached the northbound lanes of Grand, the traffic signal turned red for both north and south traffic.
The video showed a gold sedan, traveling at high speeds, striking Babbitt as he was in the crosswalk. The sedan then continued north in the southbound lanes without stopping.
A short time later, a 911 caller reported that a gold sedan, which appeared to have been in a crash, had been abandoned near West Ninth and Jefferson Streets. Police responded and found the heavily damaged vehicle, along with two sacks embedded in the sedan.
The next day, detectives contacted the registered owner, who said she had sold the vehicle to Macias. When detectives went to his home, he was not there.
Police learned Lenexa officers had gone to his home after Macias claimed he’d been attacked and his car stolen, but he was vague and declined help.
On Feb. 5, Macias called detectives and said he wanted them to come to his home so he could make a statement. Macias allegedly admitted he was trying to speed away from a vehicle in the Power and Light District. As he fled north, he reached up to 60 mph.
Macias said he saw a man in the crosswalk, but allegedly told the detectives he had the green light when he struck Babbitt. Saying he was scared, Macias continued north and abandoned the car near a dog park at Ninth and Jefferson. He flagged down a driver in a parking garage and asked them to take him home.
City surveillance cameras allegedly showed Macias failing to stop for multiple red lights and hitting a vehicle at Pershing Road and Main Street shortly before the fatal crash.
