Updated: Monday, Dec. 12, 11:15 a.m.
Overland Park Police say one person was killed and two other motorists injured after a vehicle went the wrong way on Interstate 435 in Overland Park late Saturday night and struck two other vehicles.
- Police on Monday morning identified the person killed as Karl Wurtenberger of Independence, Mo.
What we know: Recorded radio traffic indicates that Overland Park officers were called to check the eastbound lanes of I-435 near Metcalf Avenue for a reported wrong-way driver just after 11:30 p.m.
- Multiple 911 callers had reported a pickup truck driving westbound in the Interstate’s eastbound lanes.
- At 11:33 p.m., dispatchers can be heard telling officers they can see a crash on traffic cameras in the eastbound lanes just west of Quivira Road.
The response: An officer arrived on the scene at 11:35 p.m. to report a three-vehicle crash with one person deceased.
- Lenexa Fire and Johnson County Med-Act also responded.
- Paramedics also reported one person dead, a second in critical condition and a third in stable condition.
Both injured people were transported to Overland Park Regional Medical across the Interstate from the crash scene.
What police now say: In a statement Monday morning, Overland Park Police say a vehicle traveling west on eastbound I-435 first struck a vehicle driven by Wurtenberger, then continued west before striking another vehicle.
- Police said Monday morning that the driver of the third vehicle was not injured.
Afterwards: Only one eastbound lane could get through the crash scene as police investigated.
- Officers from the Overland Park Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit remained on the scene until about 5:30 a.m. Sunday, when all lanes were reopened.
- Overland Park Police have not released any details about the deadly crash.
Check back with this report for updates as more details become available.
Mike Frizzell is a freelance crime and fire reporter who runs Operation 100 News and frequently reports and does photo assignments for the Post.
