Man dies during attempt to jump onto moving semi during rushour traffic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - One man is dead after he fell during an attempt to jump onto the trailer of a moving semi-truck during rush hour traffic on I-70 near the stadiums.

The Kansas City Police Department says that first responders were called to the area of I-70 and Stadium Drive around 3:15 p.m. on Friday, June 13, with reports of an injury crash.

When first responders arrived, they said they found the enger of a black GMC Sierra pickup truck had exited the vehicle as it was traveling in rush hour traffic along eastbound I-70, just west of the Blue Ridge Cutoff.

Investigators noted that a Freightliner semi truck that had been behind the pickup began to merge into a different lane. However, the man who got out of the pickup began to try to make his way inside the semi’s cab.

In an attempt to get away from the area, the semi driver began to slowly pull forward as the man ran alongside his flatbed. He then jumped onto the trailer and grabbed a retention strap as the truck was moving.

Law enforcement officials said the man lost his grip and fell to the roadway, where the rear axle of the trailer drove over him before the driver could stop. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

KD noted that all lanes of eastbound I-70 were closed at I-435 for about 2 and a half hours. The roadway has since been reopened.

According to KC Scout, the crash caused a significant backup in traffic. Drivers were warned to avoid the area.

The Kansas City Royals and Missouri Department of Transportation took to X (formerly Twitter) and urged fans to find an alternative route for tonight’s game.

Alternate routes to Kauffman Stadium are highlighted below:

No further information, including the name of the deceased, has been released.

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