KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly crash involving a stolen vehicle that occurred just after 5p.m. August 13 in Kansas City have identified the victims.
A Kia Soul driven by 16-year-old Donelle Morris of Kansas City was eastbound on 35th Street at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The Kia came upon an eastbound Chevy Tahoe. As the Chevy Tahoe approached Norton Street, the driver slowed to make the left turn to go North on Norton, according to Becchina.
The driver of the Kia had pulled over into the westbound lanes to pass the Chevy Tahoe just as the Chevy Tahoe was starting his turn. The vehicles collided in the westbound lanes of travel. The Chevy Tahoe was spun around and south on Norton.
The driver was transported to an area hospital, with non-life-threatening injuries. The Kia Soul crashed into a large wooden utility pole and then flipped onto the roof.
The Kia Soul had eight occupants in the vehicle. Morris was pronounced dead at the scene. The front seat passenger identified as 37-year-old Reginald K Smith of Kansas City, Missouri, was pronounced dead at the scene.
EMS transported the second left front passenger identified as 32-year-old Myesha S. Gentry of Kansas City, Missouri, to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, according to Becchina.
A 20-year-old man was sitting in the second right passenger seat, with a 4-year-old child sitting on his lap. In the middle second row seat was a 6-year-old child. In the rear cargo area were a 12-year-old and 13-year-old, not in any type of seat. All were transported to area hospitals with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Prior to the crash, an officer had stopped the Kia at 31st and Cleveland, for a traffic violation.
The Kia driver pulled over, but after the officer exited his vehicle, the Kia driver took off at a high rate of speed. The officer did not follow. The Kia responded back as a stolen auto, taken August 2nd.
This were the 57th, 58th and 59th traffic fatalities in Kansas City, Missouri in 2024 total compared to 56 at this time last year, according to Becchina.