Matthew T. Brooks Obituary, Saturday crash in Kansas City Identified Driver dead after Independence police chase

Matthew T. Brooks Obituary – One individual lost their life as a result of an Independence police pursuit that culminated in a collision in Kansas City. The Kansas City Police Department received a call about the incident at approximately 2:17 p.m. in the vicinity of East 31st Street and Wabash Avenue, as stated by Sgt. Phillip DiMartino, a spokesperson for the department.

During the pursuit, Independence police were following a white Chevrolet Z71 pick-up truck that crossed into Kansas City while heading westbound on 31st Street. At the intersection of 31st and Wabash, the Chevrolet collided with a black Audi Q5 traveling in the opposite direction, according to DiMartino. Following the collision with the Audi, the Chevrolet struck a red KIA Sportage also traveling westbound on 31st.

Subsequently, the Chevrolet veered onto a sidewalk, crashed through a wrought iron fence, ascended a grassy embankment, and ultimately collided with a large tree, DiMartino reported. The driver of the Chevrolet was transported to a hospital, where they were pronounced deceased. The individuals in the KIA, both the driver and passenger, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the Audi driver did not sustain any reported injuries from the incident. DiMartino confirmed that no officers from the Kansas City Police Department were part of the pursuit.

An investigation conducted by The Star revealed that Independence police initiated a significantly higher number of car chases compared to other law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan area. The investigation highlighted the vague policies governing when Independence officers can engage in pursuits, often resulting in speeds exceeding 100 mph. Following the tragic death of Sharon Ault, a 50-year-old Buckner resident killed in a collision caused by a driver fleeing Independence police in September, her family reached a wrongful death settlement this month.

Court documents indicate that each of Ault’s children and her widower will receive $7,584.05 after legal fees. Despite officers pursuing the driver, Matthew T. Brooks, at speeds of 100 mph on U.S. 24 Highway, the chase was terminated when Brooks began driving on the wrong side of the road, as detailed in court records. Ault was traveling north on Little Blue Parkway at the time of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene.