KANSAS CITY, MO — Three people were killed and five others were injured Monday afternoon in a multi-vehicle crash on 71 Highway in Kansas City involving a semi-truck and three other vehicles. Kansas City police said the collision happened shortly after 3:15 p.m. near 71 Highway and 19th Street, during the busy afternoon commute.

Investigators said the driver of a white Volvo semi-truck did not slow down or stop for backed-up traffic before striking the other vehicles. One of those vehicles was a Honda minivan carrying six people. Police said three passengers in that minivan died, while the driver and two other passengers were taken to a hospital with critical injuries.

Police say the semi-truck did not slow for congested traffic

Kansas City police said their preliminary investigation indicates the semi-truck entered the crash scene without reducing speed enough for the traffic conditions ahead. That initial finding is central to the case as detectives continue to sort out how the chain-reaction collision unfolded.

The crash involved the semi-truck and three passenger vehicles, according to police. Beyond the minivan, officials said two other drivers were hurt as well, adding to the toll from the collision on one of the city’s major roadways.

The driver of a Honda CR-V was taken to a hospital in critical condition. The driver of a Ford SUV was hospitalized in stable condition, police said.

Six people were riding in the minivan struck by the truck

Police said six people were inside the Honda minivan when the semi-truck hit it. Two of the passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, and a third later died at a hospital, bringing the death toll from that vehicle to three.

The minivan’s driver and two other passengers survived the initial crash but were seriously hurt. They were transported to a hospital with critical injuries, according to Kansas City police.

The identities of the victims have not been released in the information provided by police. The crash remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the full sequence of events and the role each vehicle played.

Rush-hour traffic snarled as crews dealt with fuel spill

The collision happened during the Monday afternoon rush, and police said it caused a significant traffic backup in the area. With lanes affected near 19th Street, the wreck tied up one of Kansas City’s heavily traveled corridors at a peak travel time.

Emergency crews also responded to a fuel spill from the semi-truck, adding another hazard at the scene. Response teams had to manage both the victims and the spill while investigators examined the damaged vehicles and roadway.

That combination of a major crash and fuel leak likely complicated cleanup efforts, though police have not publicly detailed how long the highway remained affected. The roadway impact was immediate enough to slow drivers far beyond the crash point.

Driver of the Volvo semi-truck is being investigated

Kansas City police said the semi-truck driver was placed on an investigative hold while the investigation continues. That status allows detectives to keep examining the driver’s role in the crash as they gather statements and other evidence.

Authorities have not said whether impairment, distraction, mechanical failure, or any other factor may have contributed. For now, the preliminary finding focuses on the truck failing to slow or stop for traffic that had already slowed ahead of it.

The crash remains active as a police investigation, and officials have not announced any charges or further findings. The case centers on a deadly afternoon collision that left multiple families dealing with severe injuries and loss.