KANSAS CITY, MO — Three people were killed and five others were injured Monday afternoon when a semi-truck crashed into multiple vehicles on northbound U.S. 71 Highway just south of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, authorities said.
The collision happened around 3:20 p.m. near 19th Street and led to a major traffic disruption during the evening commute. Police said the truck failed to slow down for congested traffic before striking several vehicles in sequence.
The roadway did not reopen until about 9:50 p.m., several hours after the crash forced officials to close the area and investigate the scene.
Police say the truck struck several vehicles in backed-up traffic
According to police, the semi-truck entered slowed traffic and hit multiple vehicles on the highway. Investigators said the impact created a serious scene on one of the city’s key north-south routes during rush hour.
Officials have not identified the semi-truck driver publicly, but they said the driver was placed on an investigative hold. That usually means authorities are continuing to question the person while they work to determine what happened.
Police have not said whether charges have been filed. The crash remains under active investigation.
Three victims in a Honda minivan were among the dead and injured
Police said two passengers in a Honda minivan died at the scene after the vehicle was struck. A third passenger from the same minivan was taken to a hospital and later died from injuries sustained in the crash.
The minivan’s driver and two other passengers were also hospitalized with critical injuries. Authorities did not immediately release their names.
The severity of the injuries underscored how quickly the crash unfolded once the semi-truck entered the line of traffic. Police have not released additional details about the occupants’ conditions beyond what was provided Monday evening.
Two other drivers were hospitalized after the collision
In addition to the people in the minivan, police said the driver of a Honda CR-V was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Another driver, operating a Ford SUV, was hospitalized and described as being in stable condition.
Those injuries added to the scale of the incident, which involved several vehicles on a busy stretch of highway near downtown Kansas City. Officials have not said how many total vehicles were hit.
The crash created a prolonged response from police and other emergency crews while investigators worked at the scene and traffic was diverted around the closure.
Highway reopened late in the evening after hours of delays
The northbound lanes of U.S. 71 near 19th Street remained closed for hours after the crash, with the roadway finally reopening around 9:50 p.m. Monday. By then, the evening commute had long passed, but the closure still affected traffic in the area.
The location, just south of downtown Kansas City, is a heavily traveled corridor that carries drivers in and out of the central city. A crash of this size on that stretch can quickly back up traffic and slow surrounding streets as well.
Police described the incident as a major traffic event during rush hour, reflecting both the timing and the number of vehicles involved.
Investigators continue to examine what caused the crash
The Kansas City Police Department said the crash remains under investigation as detectives and traffic investigators continue to piece together what happened before impact. At this stage, officials have not said whether speed, distraction or another factor played a role.
Because the semi-truck driver was placed on an investigative hold, the inquiry is likely to focus on the truck’s movement through traffic and the conditions on the highway at the time of the collision. Police have not released a timeline for when more information may be available.
The deadly wreck added another grim reminder of how quickly congestion on major roadways can turn dangerous when a large commercial vehicle fails to slow in time.
