AUTHORITIES SAY SPEED, INATTENTION LED TO CRASH
Two motorcycles that authorities say were traveling together crashed on Saturday night on Interstate 435 in Platte County, resulting in the death of one of the drivers.
The crash occurred about 7:22 p.m. on Saturday on northbound I-435 just south of Hwy. 45, near mile marker 22. The initial scene resulted in another crash about a minute later when a tractor-trailer struck a Chevrolet Suburban that had slowed for traffic.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the crash involving the two motorcycles occurred when the front of a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Joshauwa W. Wiley, age 42, of Kansas City struck the rear of a 2022 Aprilia motorcycle driven by Edward M. Strickland, 30, of Kansas City.
Authorities say the impact caused both motorcycles to travel off the roadway, and both drivers were ejected.
The highway patrol says Wiley was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic at 7:51 p.m.
Strickland suffered serious injuries and was taken by helicopter ambulance to KU Medical Center.
On Monday, Sgt. Bill Lowe of the highway patrol told The Landmark that the two motorcyclists were traveling together and were traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred. Lowe said speed and inattention were contributing factors in the crash.
A second crash that occurred one minute later happened when a 2018 Freightliner driven by David Calloway, 52, of San Antonio, Tex. struck a 2010 Chevrolet Suburban that had slowed due to the motorcycle crash. The suburban was driven by Benjamin T. Quick, 38, of Country Club Village, Mo.
Calloway was transported to North Kansas City Hospital with serious injuries. His rig was totaled in the crash.
The driver of the Suburban was not injured. The Suburban had moderate damage, according to the highway patrol crash report.