Platte City man is charged in fatal rear-end collision

Prosecutors have charged a Platte City man with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a wreck early Saturday that killed another motorist.

Nicholas N. Sanders, 24, was northbound on Interstate 29 near Mexico City Avenue when his vehicle rear-ended a car driven by Michael R. Sear, 58, of Kansas City, Kan.

Both cars left the road and crashed into a median barrier. Missouri Highway Patrol troopers found Sear unresponsive. He was taken to North Kansas City Hospital, where he died.

According to court records, investigators spoke with Sanders at the scene and noticed he had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Investigators administered field sobriety tests and determined that Sanders was intoxicated. His blood alcohol content registered .313, nearly four times the legal limit.

Sanders told investigators he drank three beers and three shots of whiskey earlier that evening at a Kansas City bar. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Platte City man is charged in fatal rear-end collision."