Victim identified in fatal collision involving semi on NB I-49 near 140th Street

UPDATE, May 1 | Grandview police have identified the victim as 26-year-old Markel Heard, of Kansas City. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

ORIGINAL STORY | A fatal crash between a semi truck and another vehicle early Tuesday morning closed northbound Interstate 49 near 140th Street in Grandview.

Grandview police officers responded to the reported crash shortly before 1 a.m.

Officers said a semi tractor-trailer lost control on southbound I-49, struck the center median and drove into the northbound lanes.

The semi struck a northbound vehicle.

The drivers of both vehicles were transported to area hospitals.

The driver of the northbound vehicle, who police said was a male around 25 years old, was pronounced deceased.

Police said the driver of the semi suffered critical injuries.

Both drivers appear to be from the Kansas City area, per police.

The semi truck was hauling a load of oranges. Northbound I-49 closed while investigation and clean-up were underway.

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