KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One man and a dog are dead after a vehicle exited a Northland roadway, traveled down an embankment and caught fire Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri.
Police and emergency crews responded shortly after 3 p.m. to northbound Interstate 29 at Interstate 435, where the driver was trapped in the white Chevy Impala after failing to negotiate a curve on Northwest Roanridge Road, according to KCPD Accident Investigation Unit Sgt. Deb Randol.
Officers, firefighters and bystanders attempted to rescue the driver, but were unable to do so.
"I think I saw half a dozen fire extinguishers," Randol said. "[They] just couldn't get it [the fire] out, or get him out."
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The driver, who has yet to be identified, had a German Shepherd and a Jack Russell in the vehicle. Both dogs were thrown from the vehicle during the crash. The German Shepherd died at the scene, and the Jack Russell was taken to Platte County Animal Control.
Two officers also are being treated for smoke inhalation. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.
The fatal crash is the 15th of 2021 -- the same number of deadly crashes to date in 2020.
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"People seem to think now is the time for speed," Randol said.
Two crashes also occurred Saturday because of speeding.
Kansas City, Missouri, police reported 103 fatal crashes in 2020, compared to 77 in 2019.
