KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A bystander who was seriously injured after a man suspected of driving drunk tried to flee from police last week in Kansas City, Missouri, has died, according to police.
Rebecca White, 38, of Raytown, was transported to an area hospital after the Feb. 19 crash, which occurred near East 47th Street and Raytown Road. On Friday, police said she had died from her injuries.
Her father, Gary White, told 41 Action News on Friday that she suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, lacerations on her liver and a broken collarbone. She was wearing her seat belt, according to her father.
White's 2-year-old daughter, who was in the car with White, also was injured in the crash. Police said last week that the child was in serious but stable condition.
The girl will turn 3 next month, according to her grandfather. White also leaves behind a 9-year-old son. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral and medical expenses, and any additional donations will go toward a fund for the children.
The police pursuit began after a woman told officers that a man, later identified as 32-year-old Miguel Ayala, had tried to strike her with a vehicle in the 5100 block of Hedges Avenue. Officers located Ayala's vehicle around East 53rd Street and Hardy Court, and he fled, according to police.
According to court records, Ayala failed to stop at stop signs, drove into oncoming lanes of traffic and reached speeds of up to 75 mph in a 40 mph zone.
Near East 47th Street and Raytown Road, the suspect’s vehicle rear-ended White's vehicle, which was stopped at a red light at 47th Street.
Ayala was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. According to court records, he had a blood-alcohol content of .347 and told detectives that he was "so drunk" that he couldn't remember what had happened.
Ayala faces charges of resisting arrest and DWI.
