1 dead, 2 injured in early Tuesday morning collision on Interstate 70
INDEPENDENCE, MO, (January 28, 2025) - One person died and two others were severely injured early Tuesday morning in a multi-vehicle collision triggered by a wrong-way motorist in Independence.
Ricky Monroe was fatally injured early Tuesday morning when a wrong-way motorist struck the vehicle he was driving along Interstate 70 in Independence.
According to police, 64-year-old Blue Springs resident Ricky Monroe was operating a Kia Optima westbound along Interstate 70 at approximately 12:30 a.m. Around that time, a Toyota Camry heading eastbound on the westbound side of the roadway struck the Kia near Noland Road. After impact, the Toyota collided with a Freightliner tractor-trailer and a Honda Accord.
Sadly, Monroe was declared deceased at the site of the crash.
Two additional people involved sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The incident remains under investigation.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Incidents such as this could be avoided if people behind wheels abide by traffic rules but, unfortunately, that did not happen in this case.
Wrong-way drivers endanger the lives of everyone on the road, and such accidents can occur for various reasons, including driver error, distracted driving, and poor road design.
NTSB statistics reveal that as many as 75 percent of all wrong-way crashes are the result of a driver getting behind the wheel while under the influence.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors that are considered and must thoroughly be examined,” said Candice Bond, a Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond, a well-known auto accident attorney.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of Ricky Monroe may pursue a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident such as this.
"In the wake of a catastrophic accident, families deserve peace of mind. Completing an independent investigation while big insurance corporations want to weaken your case requires an attorney with full knowledge of the complex legal process and resources to fight by your side.
"Losing a loved one due to someone else’s negligence is an unimaginable tragedy. While no amount of compensation can bring them back, an experienced attorney can hold responsible parties accountable and help secure justice for your family."
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).