Pursuit of speeding driver in Prairie Village ends in fatal accident

A 24-year-old Kansas City, Mo. man died early Sunday morning after running into a tree near the intersection of 71st Street and Mission Road, ending of a short police pursuit north on Mission Road.

A Prairie Village police officer observed Adam L. Kleitz driving 64 miles an hour westbound on 75th Street just after 3 a.m. Sunday. The officer followed his car as he turned north onto Mission Road and then turned on his lights to conduct a traffic stop. Kleitz did not pull over, and instead accelerated away from the officer, according to a release issue by the department.

The officer turned on his sirens, after which the driver continued northbound for approximately four seconds before crashing into a tree on the west side of Mission Road.

Kleitz was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. His vehicle caught fire, and was extinguished by the officer.

The Shawnee Police Deparment’s Traffic Unit was called to investigate the accident. Their investigation is still under way.