The victim of a fatal traffic accident on Sept. 20 has been identified, according to a Kansas City, Kansas, police spokesman.
The victim of the accident Sept. 20 was identified as Chrissy A. Saale, 29, a resident of Kansas City, Kansas, who was a passenger in a vehicle fleeing from police, according to the spokesman.
An investigation revealed that she died as a result of injuries sustained in the wreck, police stated.
The police spokesman stated that the incident started about 12:19 a.m. Sept. 20 when an officer observed a suspicious vehicle near 18th and Metropolitan. They followed the vehicle to a dead end and when it made a U-turn, the officers conducted a traffic stop, pulling in front of the vehicle, police stated.
Officers observed the driver, and an unresponsive female passenger, according to the spokesman. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver backed, then drove toward the officers, striking the driver’s side of the police car, the police spokesman stated.
The officers then initiated a pursuit, but terminated the chase near the state line, the spokesman stated. Kansas City, Missouri, police picked up the pursuit until the vehicle came back into Kansas City, Kansas, and the Kansas City, Missouri, police helicopter continued to follow it, according to the spokesman.
Eventually the vehicle drove the wrong way on I-635, then went to I-70, where it struck another vehicle head-on near 57th Street, police stated.
The driver who had fled police was taken into custody and the passenger was dead at the scene, the spokesman stated. The driver of the vehicle that was not fleeing from police had minor injuries, according to the spokesman.
The spokesman stated that the Kansas Highway Patrol will investigate the accident, and the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department will handle the criminal investigation relating to the events leading to the pursuit.
Anyone with information may contact the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.