KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A man died after a crash on I-70 near the Sterling exit in Kansas City after his truck stalled out.
Missouri Highway Patrol troopers said if this happens on a fast-moving highway, you're in serious danger.
Around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, a red pick-up truck stopped in the middle lane of I-70. A car hit it, sending it down the embankment, according to Kansas City police.
Another vehicle hit the wrecked car and a second hit debris.
First responders and investigators were cleaning up for hours.
Northlander Roderick Cody knows how serious a wreck like that can be. In March 2017, he was riding with his wife, Tiffany, when they were stopped at a stop sign. He could see what would happen next.
"I kinda just yelled, ‘Hey!’ It was really just that quick. It was kind of dusk, so the headlights were on," said Cody.
He braced himself for impact, tore his rotator cuff, and had to have surgery.
According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, so far in 2018, there have been 323 deaths on Missouri highways. That's 4 percent less than this time last year.
Sgt. Bill Lowe said generally they see more crashes during the summer months because it's warm outside and people are out driving.
He said if you have car trouble on the highway, don't panic. Try to coast off onto the shoulder, as far away from the road as you can get.
"Staying in the car is the safest thing you can do. You don’t ever want to get out of the car and try to cross traffic," said Lowe.
From there, call 911, star 55, or MoDOT so authorities can block traffic.
They will call a tow truck as well, according to Lowe.
Cody said when it comes to the unexpected, drivers have to pay attention.
"Like I tell my teenage daughter who just started driving, you have to drive for everybody else on the road, too," said Cody.
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