Man struck by vehicle after falling from truck on 71 highway

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man died early Sunday morning after he fell out of a moving vehicle on Missouri Highway 71 and was struck by several passing cars.

The incident took place shortly before 4 a.m. in the southbound lanes between the 35th Street overpass and 39th Street.

Police said the man, identified as 32-year-old Jarad Free, of Grandview, Mo., was riding in the back of an extended cab pickup truck his wife was driving. The man, who police say was not wearing a seatbelt, realized his door was not completely closed and opened it to secure it tightly.

Upon doing so, he fell out of the vehicle and landed in the left lanes of traffic while the vehicle was traveling approximately 40 mph.

Free’s wife pulled the truck to the side of the road. Authorities said as Free was laying in the highway, he was struck by at least one passing vehicle and perhaps as many as three. None of those drivers stopped.

Arriving ambulance crews pronounced Free dead at the scene. It is unknown whether the man died from the initial fall or from having been struck by another vehicle.

The highway was closed for about 90 minutes while investigators worked at the scene.