KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A man who was trying to retrieve a cell phone from the highway is dead after being hit by a car Wednesday night.
The accident happened along southbound U.S. 71 near Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.
Police say Michael White, 32, of Kansas City, was with four other people in a car heading southbound on 71 Highway at about 10:00 Wednesday night when they realized that they had left a cell phone on the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle pulled over, and White and four other occupants got out of the vehicle and tried to retrieve the phone from the highway. According to the report the victim stepped into the #3 lane and a City Department van hit him. He was immediately transported to the hospital, but he was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the City Department van was not injured and stayed at the scene. Police say the driver is cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.
The Kansas City, Mo. Water Services Department issued the following statement regarding the accident:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the man killed Wednesday night at 71 Highway and Emmanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.
A KC Water Services employee was at the end of his shift and headed back to the office when the accident occurred.
The crash remains under investigation by the Kansas City Police Department. They have our full cooperation.
The accident caused roads to close for a short period of time while investigators tried to determine what happened.
