Police say a man in his 20s died in the wreck Thursday afternoon. Photo credit Mike Frizzell.
Overland Park Police say a man in his early 20s was killed in a two-vehicle crash on eastbound Interstate-435 just east of Quivira on Thursday afternoon.
Shortly before 2 p.m., officers and firefighters were called to investigate a rollover crash on the exit road from eastbound I-435 to US-69 Highway. Arriving officers reported one vehicle on its roof, and one person ejected from another vehicle.
Overland Park Police Department spokesperson Officer John Lacy says a 23-year-old man was thrown from his vehicle and died on the scene.
Lacy says witnesses to the crash told officers the Dodge Charger was driving at an estimated 90 miles per hour in the far left lane of eastbound I-435. At the last second, the Charger swerved across all lanes of I-435 to take the exit road to US-69. That’s where Lacy says the Charger crashed into a jersey barrier and then an SUV, which was already on the exit road entering the tunnel.
“Vehicle #1 [Dodge Charger] spun and struck Vehicle #2 [Volkswagen], also traveling eastbound,” Lacy said. “The driver of V1 [Dodge] was ejected and suffered fatal injuries.”
The Vokswagon SUV rolled over, coming to a stop on its roof. Lacy said the driver of the SUV was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Lacy says the driver of the SUV was transported to a nearby hospital but was not seriously injured.
Police have identified the man who was killed as Simon S. Wilmont, of Olathe, Kansas.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact the Overland Park Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit at 913-890-1482.
The ramp from eastbound I-435 to US-69 reopened shortly after 6 p.m., Thursday.
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated with new comments from Overland Park Police and the victim’s identity.
Our comment section is reserved for subscribers. Try a subscription today for just $1
Monthly Subscription
$1 for your first month, then just $8.50 per month thereafter. Cancel anytime.
Try for $1Annual Subscription
$1 for your first month, then just $85 per year thereafter. Cancel anytime.
Try for $1