KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Thursday in Kansas City.
An international semi-truck pulling two trailers, was eastbound on Interstate 435 in Kansas City, according to Officer Corey Carlisle.
Just east of 103rd, the semi was struck by debris from a pickup and swerved right to avoid more debris that was flying out of the bed of the pickup.
The semi struck a Honda Civic and then a guardrail located on the south side of the interstate.
The semi continued eastbound, traveling off the roadway to the right, into a drainage ditch and striking a concrete noise abatement wall.
Upon impact with the wall, the cab of the semi-truck immediately exploded, engulfing the cab and both trailers in fire.
The driver of the semi-truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Honda was uninjured. The pickup continued eastbound on Interstate 435.
Five of the six lanes of eastbound Interstate 435 were completely closed to traffic for approximately five hours. Three lanes of eastbound Interstate 435 were still closed Thursday afternoon as the semi trailers and cargo are extricated from the scene.
Authorities have not released the driver's name or additional details. The accident remains under investigation.