KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Man Dies in Tragic Fall Attempting to Jump onto Moving Semitruck on I-70
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A tragic and unusual incident on a busy stretch of Interstate 70 in Kansas City claimed the life of a man on Friday afternoon, leaving motorists stunned and authorities piecing together the final moments leading up to his death. The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) responded to a fatal incident around 3:15 p.m. near the intersection of I-70 and Stadium Drive, during the height of rush hour traffic.
According to an initial report from KCTV and KCPD, the fatality occurred after a male passenger exited a moving GMC pickup truck while it was traveling eastbound on I-70. In a shocking and desperate move, the man reportedly attempted to leap onto the trailer of a semitruck that was behind the pickup.
Police say the semitruck was in the process of changing lanes amidst the rush hour congestion when the man made his attempt. Tragically, he fell onto the roadway and suffered catastrophic injuries. First responders arrived quickly on the scene following 911 calls about what was initially reported as a traffic crash. However, upon arrival, it became clear that this was not a typical vehicle collision.
Despite the efforts of emergency crews, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased pending notification of next of kin, and further details about his reasons for jumping from the vehicle remain under investigation. It is not known whether the man was experiencing a mental health crisis, attempting a daredevil stunt, or acting under the influence of substances.
Kansas City Police closed multiple lanes on I-70 for several hours while traffic investigators processed the scene, causing extensive backups and delays across the city’s eastern corridor. Traffic was eventually reopened later in the evening once crews had cleared the area and concluded their preliminary examination.
“We are treating this as a very unusual and tragic event,” a KCPD spokesperson said. “We ask that anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage from that time contact our Traffic Investigation Section. Any piece of information may help us understand what happened.”
The semitruck driver, who remained at the scene and is cooperating with police, was reportedly unaware that the man was attempting to jump onto his trailer until the incident occurred.
This tragic occurrence has sparked conversations around mental health, public safety on highways, and the bizarre and often dangerous behavior seen on busy interstates. Officials remind the public that highways are extremely hazardous environments where any action outside of a vehicle—especially during moving traffic—can lead to fatal consequences.
As the community mourns and seeks answers, KCPD continues to investigate the full circumstances of this rare and heartbreaking incident.