INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A Blue Springs man charged with involuntary manslaughter in the first degree for the death of a Missouri Department of Transportation worker in September appeared in court Monday morning for his preliminary hearing, but received a continuance from the judge.
Prosecutors say David Murdick, 35, was driving at a high speed and intoxicated when he ignored caution lights and barriers and slammed into Clifton Scott’s vehicle.
Murdick walked into the courtroom Monday morning on crutches and was driven to the courthouse by his father-in-law. His case was continued to February 4 in the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence.
More on the fatal crash that killed Clifton Scott
Clifton Scott was part of an emergency response team made up of police, paramedics and MODOT workers, called out to a four-car crash that happened a few minutes before Clifton was killed on eastbound I-70 near Lee’s Summit Road.
It was about 1:50 a.m. when the first crash occurred at I-70 and I-470. One person was seriously injured in that crash.
As crews were working that scene, police say Murdick blew through the accident barriers and crashed into Clifton Scott’s truck, causing a fire. Scott was at the accident scene to take photographs. He was killed instantly and left behind a fiance, a brother, sister and 14-year-old son. He was 50 years old.
Prosecutors say Murdick’s blood-alcohol level tested at .184, twice the legal limit. He was also critically injured in the crash.
Murdick worked as an attorney before the crash.
