Victim of fiery crash on I-435 identified; police seek witnesses

The driver of the semi truck that crashed into a concrete noise abatement wall along I-435 yesterday to avoid flying debris from a pickup truck has been identified as 52-year-old Tony P. Wyman.

Investigators are looking for any witnesses who may have a description of the pick-up truck.  They have no information on the truck at this time. Witnesses can call 816-474-TIPS or call Traffic Investigators at 816-482-8298.

The fatal accident occurred at 8:45 Thursday morning and stopped traffic for over five hours.

The police investigation revealed that a red international semi-truck pulling two trailers, was traveling eastbound on I-435. Just east of the 103rd Street exit, the semi was struck by debris flying out of the bed of a pickup truck and swerved right to avoid the debris.

The semi struck a gray Honda Civic that was traveling eastbound on I-435. The Honda struck the guardrail located on the south side of the interstate.

The semi continued eastbound, traveling off the roadway to the right, into a drainage ditch and striking a concrete noise abatement wall. Upon impact with the wall, the cab of the semi-truck immediately exploded, engulfing the cab and both trailers in fire. The driver of the semi-truck was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the Honda was uninjured.

The pickup truck continued eastbound on I-435.

Five of the six lanes of eastbound I-435 were completely closed to traffic for approximately five hours. Three lanes of eastbound I-435 remained closed as the semi-truck, trailers, and cargo were extricated from the scene.

This is fatality #49 compared to fatality #50 at this time last year.

Witnesses can call 816-474-TIPS or call Traffic Investigators at 816-482-8298.