KCMO nearly hits record for the number of traffic fatalities

By John Sharp

Besides setting an annual all-time record for homicides in 2023, KCMO also recorded a near record for the number of traffic fatalities during the past five years.

The common contributing factors to last year’s fatal crashes were tied to driver behavior including excessive speed and impairment from alcohol and/or drugs, according to Captain Corey Carlisle, commander of the department’s media relations unit.

Based on Kansas City Police Department records, there were 102 traffic fatalities resulting from 90 fatal crashes in 2023, just below the 103 fatalities recorded in 2020 from 97 fatal crashes.

In 2022 there were 89 fatalities from 85 fatal crashes.  The low for the past five years in both categories was in 2019 when there were only 78 fatalities from 74 crashes.

Although all toxicology reports for last year’s fatal crashes have not yet been received by the department, based on currently available data 52% of fatal crashes involved alcohol or drug impairment.

Of the drivers and passengers killed in last year’s fatal crashes who were required by law to wear seatbelts, 57% were not wearing (or not properly wearing) their seatbelts.

Fatalities last year included 20 pedestrians, 18 motorcyclists and 4 cyclists, according to information provided by Carlisle.

There were 17 fatal hit and run crashes in 2023, which tied the number in 2022 for the most in the last five years.  Last year also had many more multi-victim fatal crashes – 11 – than any of the prior four years when the most any year was 5.