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3 dead, 6 others injured in crash near East 35th Street, Norton Avenue in Kansas City

35th and Norton Avenue crash
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, police released more information Wednesday morning on the crash that occurred just after 5 p.m. Tuesday near East 35th Street and Norton Avenue.

Officers said a blue Kia Soul was eastbound on 35th Street at a high rate of speed when it came upon a white Chevy Tahoe, which was also eastbound on 35th Street.

The Kia moved into the westbound lanes to pass the Chevy just as the driver slowed to make a left turn.

When the vehicles collided, the Chevy was spun around, ending up south on Norton. Police said the driver was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Kia crashed into a large wooden utility pole before it flipped onto its roof.

Eight occupants were inside the Kia.

The 16-year-old driver and 37-year-old front-seat passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.

The second left front-seat passenger was transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, police said.

A 20-year-old male was in the second right passenger seat with a 4-year-old child on his lap. A 6-year-old was in the middle second-row seat.

Additionally, a 12-year-old and 13-year-old were in the rear cargo area, where the pair was not in any type of seat.

All five were transported with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Shortly before the crash, the Kia was stopped at 31st and Cleveland for a traffic violation.

But as the officer exited his vehicle, the Kia driver took off at a "high rate of speed," police said.

The officer did not follow.

Police said the Kia came back as a stolen vehicle taken Aug. 2.

There have been 59 traffic fatalities in KCMO this year compared to 56 at this time last year.