Eight people were taken to area hospitals earlier this week after two Kansas City car accidents happened just minutes apart from each other at the same site, according to LJ World. Both of the accidents happened on Interstate 35 near Ottawa.
Summer months lure drivers from across the country to our roadways. The increased amount of traffic comes with a higher risk for serious car accidents. Our Kansas City car accident attorneys ask that all motorists practice safe and cautious driving habits to help prevent these potentially fatal accidents.
The first accident, according to an Ottawa police spokesman, happened at 2:40 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The driver of a southbound pickup truck reportedly lost control of his vehicle and rolled off the right side of the shoulder near Eisenhower Road.
The pickup truck carried four people – a male driver, a male passenger, a female passenger and a 3-year-old passenger. The female and the child, who were in the backseat, were ejected from the vehicle. The driver had to be extricated from the vehicle after the accident. Officers report that the child was in a booster seat. Officers are still investigating the cause of that crash.
The 3-year-old passenger was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and the two adults were taken to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Just minutes after this accident, a second accident occurred. In this accident, a teen driver crashed into a parked vehicle that was attempting to assist the victims of the first accident. In the teen driver’s vehicle was a 9-year-old, a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old. All vehicle occupants were taken to area hospitals.
“It would not appear at this point that there were life-threatening injuries,” said Lt. Adam Weingartner, an Ottawa police spokesman.
Investigators do not believe alcohol contributed to either accident, but officials are still investigating other factors.
Follow these safety tips to help keep you and your passengers safe in the event of a disabled vehicle:
- Make sure that you always pull completely off the roadway. Stay as far on the side as possible.
- Activate your emergency flashers to warn other vehicles and law enforcement of your location.
- Call 911, a friend, a family member or a motor club for assistance.
- Remember to be patient for assistance as they may be forced to wait through traffic delays that your vehicle has caused.
- Vehicle occupants are to step out of the vehicle during the day and move away from the roadway and the vehicle until help arrives.
- Be prepared for these types of incidents. Keep a stash of nonperishable snacks, flashlights, emergency flares, blankets and jackets in your vehicle.
- Never accept a ride from a stranger, or even an emergency responder, without asking for identification beforehand.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in St. Louis, Kansas City, Overland Park or any of the surrounding areas, contact the Kansas City Injury Lawyers of Horn Law to schedule a consultation as we can arrange for hospital, home, or other convenient meeting locations throughout Missouri and Kansas. Call (816) 795-7500.
