KANSAS CITY, MO — A deadly crash on Highway 71 in Missouri is drawing fresh warnings about distracted driving after prosecutors said a semi-truck driver failed to slow for a traffic stop and slammed into several vehicles. Three people were killed and several others were hurt in the Monday afternoon collision.

Authorities say the driver, Eldar Skander, now faces three counts of involuntary manslaughter. Court records say investigators found no sign that the truck braked before impact and discovered a tablet on the floorboard that was open to YouTube.

Officials and safety advocates are using the case to remind drivers that even a brief glance away from the road can have devastating consequences. They say the crash is a stark example of how quickly a routine drive can turn deadly.

Prosecutors say the truck never slowed before impact

According to prosecutors, Skander was behind the wheel of the semi when he did not slow down for a traffic stop and struck multiple cars. The violent crash killed three people and left several others injured.

Court filings say investigators saw no evidence of emergency braking, a detail that has become central to the case. They also say a tablet was found open to YouTube inside the truck, adding to concerns that the driver may have been distracted before the crash.

The charges mean the case now extends beyond a traffic collision and into a criminal proceeding that could carry serious consequences if prosecutors prove their case.

Officials point to a growing problem on Missouri roads

Law enforcement and transportation officials say the crash fits a larger pattern across Missouri, where distracted driving continues to contribute to fatal wrecks. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says distracted driving is the third-leading cause of roadway deaths in the state.

Sgt. Justin Ewing of the patrol said the danger is not limited to damaged vehicles or delays. In serious cases, he said, people lose their lives. The message from state officials is that a moment of inattention can have permanent consequences.

The Missouri Department of Transportation says more than 450 people have died over the past five years in crashes tied to distracted driving. Those figures are now being used to reinforce warnings for motorists across the state.

Safety advocates say a few seconds can be enough to cause a tragedy

Andrea McNairy, a lawyer with Brown and Crouppen Law Firm, said people often underestimate how much ground a vehicle covers during just a few seconds of distraction. She said looking at a phone for five seconds can send a driver the length of a football field before they even realize what happened.

McNairy said she has seen a rise in distracted-driving cases in recent years. In her experience, rear-end crashes in particular often involve a driver who was not fully focused on the road.

Her point, echoed by officials, is that the danger is not abstract. A brief text, video, or app check can be enough to trigger a chain of events with irreversible consequences.

Potential penalties could reach decades in prison

Under Missouri law, involuntary manslaughter in the first degree is a Class C felony. If Skander is convicted on all three counts, prosecutors say he could face up to 30 years in prison.

McNairy said damages in cases involving distracted driving can vary widely, and she noted that juries have broad discretion depending on the facts. The criminal case could therefore have both prison exposure and major civil implications depending on how it unfolds.

The charges also highlight how seriously prosecutors may treat conduct they view as a conscious choice rather than a simple mistake. Officials say that distinction matters when a crash ends in multiple deaths.

The crash leaves families and a community facing the aftermath

Ewing said crashes like this one do more than damage cars or disrupt traffic. He said one bad decision can ripple outward and affect an entire community.

McNairy made a similar point, saying that a single choice behind the wheel can change lives in an instant. Her comments and the patrol’s warnings both underscore the larger lesson officials hope drivers take from the tragedy.

The investigation and criminal case are still moving forward, but the crash has already become a public reminder of the stakes. Missouri officials say the safest choice is simple: put the phone away, stay focused, and give the road full attention.