A man is accused of killing three people while allegedly driving the wrong way on Interstate 29 during the early morning hours of July 11.
Kyle Anthony Waymon Mendez, 34, has been charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree and leaving the scene of an accident.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said the charges were filed on July 11 following an investigation of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, assisted by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department.
According to court documents, shortly after midnight, troopers and deputies went to a crash on I-29 near the 29-mile marker near Dearborn. A black Ford Edge allegedly traveling northbound in the southbound lanes had struck a silver Honda Odyssey head on. According to the Highway Patrol report, while en route the responding officer heard a report from a witness who saw the Edge cross the median and begin traveling north in the southbound lanes.
Three people in the Odyssey were killed. Four other occupants of the Odyssey were transported to hospitals. The driver of the Ford was not at the scene.
The driver of the Odyssey, Joel Similien, 55, of Kansas City, died at the scene. Two other occupants of the vehicle, Sheyla Similien, 54, and Michelet Metellus, 52, both of Kansas City,were also pronounced dead at the scene.
Platte County sheriff’s deputies attempted to locate the driver of the Ford using a drone, but they were initially unsuccessful. A Highway Patrol K9 officer was also deployed but was unable to find the suspect. A check of the vehicle’s plates located the owners of the Ford Edge, Mendez’s grandparent. They told Kansas City, Kan. police that he had taken the vehicle without permission the previous day and had not returned it.
At about 8 a.m., court documents indicate a deputy using a drone located Mendez in a bean field using a stick to hold himself up. According to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, Detective Mathew Fleishans received an update about the crash and called Sgt. Katherine Smith to ask for permission to stop at the crash location on his way to work to see if he could find anything with his drone. Permission was granted and Fleishans began his search with the assistance of Deputy Adam Raybuck.
Fleishans used his drone and flew it along the tree line west of I-29. Det. Fleishans located the hit and run driver in thick underbrush in the tree line.
Mendez was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital and told police he was traveling to St. Joseph to meet with a couple when the accident occurred. While on the way, Mendez told police he changed his mind and turned into the median. Now traveling north in the southbound lanes, Mendez told police he was confused because he believed he was on a two-way road. He realized he was traveling the wrong way on the highway just before the collision and fled the scene because he didn’t think anyone would believe his story.
Mendez is currently being held without bond. If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Mendez faces up to 10 years in prison on each count. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of leaving the scene of the accident.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jaclyn Taylor and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson.