MSHP works accidents on I-29

After not having any accidents the first 11 days of the month in Platte County, the Missouri State Highway Patrol worked four in a three-day span.

There were two accidents on Wednesday, Feb. 12 and two on Friday, Feb. 14.

The first on Feb. 13 happened at 10:13 p.m. at the intersection of Interstate 29 and Route H.

A 2008 Mercury Milan driven by LaTonya D. Walters, 30, of Kansas City, was driving southbound when she swerved to avoid an unknown vehicle entering her lane. Her car began to slide, ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a cable barrier.

Walters sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to North Kansas City Hospital

Almost an hour later, a two-vehicle accident injured a Parkville woman and led to her arrest.

According to the MSHP, a 2011 Kia Soul driven by Roxie J. Pilla, 56, of Parkville traveled into the intersection of NW 63rd Street and Lewis Street without headlights on.

Her car struck a 2015 Ford F350 driven by Curtis Whitby, 30, of Kansas City.

Pilla was transported by ambulance to St. Luke’s Hospital-Barry Road with minor injuries.

She was later taken into custody for driving while intoxicated and charges were formally filed on Thursday, Feb. 13.

A wrong-way accident was part of two accidents two minutes apart near I-29 and NW 64th Street.

The first accident happened at 7:52 a.m., when a 2018 Jeep driven by Justin T. Halon, 53, of Parkville, was slowed for traffic in the northbound lane of I-29 when his vehicle was struck by a 2017 Dodge Caravan driven by James E. Murphy, 65, of Kansas City.

Injured in the accident were both drivers, with Hanlon having minor injuries and refusing care at the scene. Murphy had serious injuries and was transported to North Kansas City Hospital by ambulance.

Two passengers in Murphy’s vehicle, Dale R. Hanson, 73, and Patti L. Hanson, 66, both of Overland Park, Kan., were injured. 

Dale Hanson had moderate injuries and Patti Hanson had minor injuries. Both were transported to St. Luke’s Hospital on Barry Road.

The second accident, which happened at 7:54 a.m., occurred when Rex K. Karnes, 84, of Kansas City, was driving southbound in the northbound lane of I-29, just north of NW 64th Street.

His 2019 Ford F150 overtook a vehicle and struck a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Rafael Villalobos, 34, of Kansas City, head on.

Karnes had moderate injuries and was transported to Liberty Hospital. Villalobos had moderate injuries and was transported to North Kansas City Hospital.

Both vehicles were totaled in that accident.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas City Police Department assisted the MSHP on the two accidents.