OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A car that lost control and struck and killed 14-year-old Alex Rumple as she walked home from school almost struck three other children, according to a crash report released Monday by the Overland Park Police Department.
After the April 12 crash, the 70-year-old driver told investigators his car brakes were not working. The driver has not been charged.
"We are towards the end of our accident report. It's a process," said Officer John Lacy, spokesman for the Overland Park Police Department.
The crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. at 123rd Street and Switzer Road, near Oxford Middle School.
According to witnesses, the tan 2006 Ford Taurus drove up on the sidewalk on the east side of Switzer.
"I heard what sounded like a car driving super fast, so I looked up in my rearview mirror and at first what I saw was a lot of dust," said Susan Spillman, who called 911. "It passed us going straight down the sidewalk."
As the car crossed over 124th Street, the driver nearly missed three children who were exiting the crosswalk on the northeast corner near Oak Hill Elementary School. According to the police report, the children had just been escorted over by the school crossing guard.
Lacy said they were right behind Rumple.
"It's a sad situation," he said.
The driver hit Rumple, who was walking on the sidewalk, south of 123rd Street. As she was thrown from the car, the driver continued knocking a traffic light off its base, hitting a speed limit sign and crashing into a fence.
The driver had a valid license without any restrictions, according to the crash report. It also said he showed no signs of impairment, though police say a toxicology report is still pending.
"When we get the toxicology back it gives us a little more information of what's in their blood, like was there medication," Lacy said. "It always takes time."
The driver told police he remembered driving near 129th Street and Switzer Road. He then remembered "someone being in the roadway," according to the report. The driver told investigators he tried to stop but the brakes were not working.
Overland Park police are currently waiting for a "car autopsy" report to determine if the brakes were faulty.
"You are basically taking that whole vehicle down and you're looking at any and everything on that vehicle. To make sure it was operating correctly at the time of the accident," Lacy said.
