A tragic accident is being reported out of the Piper area of Kansas City, Kansas, tonight.
A boy perhaps age 4 or 5, somehow got hold of a gun and it went off, striking him, according to Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department spokesman Nancy Chartrand.
The boy was taken to a hospital, where he died, police said.
An initial investigation indicates it was a tragic accident, Chartrand stated.
Several short-term highway closures are currently in Wyandotte County, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation, and include:
• I-635 northbound, from Georgia Avenue to Missouri River, ongoing project. Traffic is reduced to a single lane with a 12-foot lane restriction for bridge re-decking work from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
• Eastbound and westbound I-70, Mill Street to Lewis and Clark Viaduct, Nov. 29. Single-lane closure and ramps closed (eastbound and westbound) I-70 entrance and exit ramps at 7th Street, Pacific Avenue and Central Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pavement work.
• Eastbound and westbound I-70 at U.S. 69 (18th Street), Nov. 30. Single-lane closure and temporary ramp closures (eastbound and westbound I-70 – U.S. 69 (18th Street) entrance and exit ramps, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pavement work.
Other KDOT construction projects affecting traffic include:
• K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway – Kaw Drive, ongoing, started Sept. 30. Bridge replacement project, work includes replacement of the eastbound and westbound K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway bridges over Kaw Drive and the Union Pacific Railroad lines. Lane and shoulder closures are scheduled on eastbound and westbound K-32 – Turner Diagonal Freeway from 65th Street to 59th Lane. A single lane will be open at all times. Crossovers will be built to carry traffic head-to-head through the work zone. Work is scheduled in multiple phases with traffic control placed first to prepare for bridge replacements. Bridge work will begin in March 2023. Eastbound Kaw Drive will be closed during bridge demolitions in 2023 and 2024. Work will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The project will shut down in November for the winter and resume in March 2023 and again from November 2023 to March 2024. Project completion is scheduled by December 2024.
• Northbound and southbound U.S. 73 (K-7) – Parallel Parkway, ongoing, start date was Sept. 19. Intersection improvement project. Work includes resurfacing for the installation of a restricted crossing U-Turn at the intersection of U.S. 73 (K-7) and Parallel Parkway. Traffic will be managed in four phases and crossovers will be built to carry U.S. 73 (K-7) traffic head-to-head through the work zone. Phase 1, from September to November 2022, the lane and shoulder closures during work hours; single lane to be open at all times. Phase 2, March-July 2023, single-lane traffic will cross over to travel head-to-head on existing lanes. Phase 3, July to December 2023, single lane traffic will cross over to travel head-to-head on newly construction northbound lanes; and Phase 4, December 2023, lane and shoulder closes during work hours; single lane to be open at all times. Work will take place Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The project will shut down in November for the winter and resume in March 2023. Project completion by December 2023.
• Eastbound and westbound K-32, Kaw Drive to 55th Street, ongoing pavement improvement project. Concrete pavement patching, pavement smoothness grinding, pavement joint sealing and pavement marking. Eastbound and westbound K-32 traffic will be reduced to a single lane for the duration of the project. Work is from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday, as needed. Project completion is expected by mid-December.
• I-70 and I-635 interchange, ongoing. Bridge deck reconstruction project; work includes replacement of bridge deck. Westbound I-70 to southbound I-635 ramp will be closed for duration of the project; detours are marked. Work is 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays necessary, with occasional overnight work from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Eastbound and westbound I-70, 78th Street to Lewis and Clark viaduct bridge, ongoing. Pavement improvement project; double lane closures on I-70 and ramps closed as needed in project area. Work will occur overnight, weather permitting. Completion by early December.
• Northbound and southbound I-635 – K-5 interchange, ongoing. Bridge replacement project, single lane closures on I-635 and ramps closed ( Southbound I-635 to southbound K-5; northbound K-5 to southbound I-635. Detours are marked. Work will occur Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Project began in October 2021 and is resuming after a winter shutdown period; project completion expected by December 2022.
• Eastbound and westbound K-32, Kaw Drive to 55th Street, ongoing. Pavement improvement project, work includes concrete pavement patching pavement smoothness grinding, pavement joint sealing and pavement marking. Eastbound and westbound K-32 traffic will be reduced to a single lane for the duration of the project. Work will take place from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday, as needed. Project completion is expected by mid-December.
• I-70 to I-635 interchange, ongoing. Bridge deck reconstruction project; work includes replacement of bridge deck. Westbound I-70 to southbound I-635 ramp will be closed for duration of the project; detours are marked. Work will occur from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays as necessary, with occasional overnight work from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Eastbound and westbound I-70, 78th Street to Lewis and Clark viaduct bridge, ongoing. Pavement improvement project; double lane closures on I-70 and ramps closed as needed in project area. Work will occur overnight, weather permitting. Completion expected by early December.
• Northbound and southbound I-635 to K-5 interchange, ongoing. Bridge replacement project; single lane closures on I-635 and ramps closed (southbound I-635 to southbound K-5; northbound K-5 to southbound I-635. Detours are marked. Work is from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Project began in October 2021 and is resuming after a winter shutdown period. Project completion in December 2022.
Unified Government project
• 7th Street and Central Avenue intersection, ongoing. Roadway and intersection improvement project; work will include new traffic signal at the intersection, widening of the curb radii to better accommodate truck traffic, new asphalt surfacing, storm sewer upgrades, reconstruction of curb and gutter and pedestrian ramps and new pavement markings and traffic signs. On-street parking will not be available along 7th Street during the project. Work will occur 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturdays as necessary. Project completion by late November.
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Subcommittee meeting today
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Subcommittee of the Unified Government will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, in a virtual format.
The meeting may be viewed in person on the fifth floor conference room, Suite 515 of the City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas, or virtually on Zoom.
To access the Zoom meeting, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82398071455.