KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Independence Police Department pursuit of a Chevrolet Z71 pickup truck Saturday afternoon entered the city limits of Kansas City, Missouri, per KCMO police.
Independence police said officers conducted a stop at 2 p.m. on a traffic violation of the Chevrolet at 20th Street and Northern Boulevard.
"As the officer was attempting to properly identify the driver and the VIN of the vehicle, the driver engaged the vehicle into drive and fled the scene," Independence police said.
A pursuit then ensued, crossing into KCMO heading westbound on 31st Street.
Once the vehicle reached the intersection of 31st and Wabash, the truck struck a black Audi Q5 traveling eastbound on 31st.
The pickup also struck a red KIA Sportage traveling westbound on 31st after colliding with the Audi.
After striking the two vehicles, KCMO police said the Chevrolet ran off the road, over a sidewalk, through an iron fence, went up a grassy embankment and struck a large tree.
The driver was transported to an area hospital and later pronounced dead.
Police identified the deceased Monday as 64-year-old Joe W. Williams, of Raytown.
The driver and rear passenger of the KIA sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver of the Audi was uninjured.
No KCMO officers were directly involved in the pursuit, police said.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
This marks the 40th traffic fatality of 2024. There had been 29 traffic deaths at this time last year.
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