INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Prosecutors have charged an Independence man with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal accident that occurred Monday near 23rd and Hardesty in Kansas City, Mo.
Andrew K. Stark, 22, was also charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree assault, one count resisting a lawful stop, one count leaving the scene of an accident and one count of driving with a revoked license.
Police said Stark crashed into another vehicle as he attempted to flee from police. One person inside the vehicle died. He has been identified as Jason Lewis, 35, from Kansas City.
Two other victims were seriously injured — a 35-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl. Both remain hospitalized at Truman Medical Center.
Officers said they wanted to stop Stark for careless driving.
An Independence police officer later clocked Stark’s car going 75 mph in a 40 mph zone. The Independence, Mo., officer pursued the suspect from 23rd and Hall to 23rd and Wheeling, which is a little less than three miles. At 23rd and Topping, the officer stopped for a traffic light, while the suspect’s vehicle continued on, police said.
When police proceeded to 23rd and Hardesty, they saw the suspect’s vehicle had crashed into another car.
“Witnesses are telling us that the vehicle disregarded a red traffic light at the intersection and struck the other vehicle as it was going southbound,” said Bill Mahoney with KCPD.
Stark reportedly ran from the scene, but police quickly apprehended and arrested him.
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