KANSAS CITY, Kan. –
A teen driver has been hospitalized with serious injuries after she was hit by a man reportedly evading arrest.
The crash happened around 10:20 p.m. on June 2.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that law enforcement officers were chasing a suspect, Joel Rodriguez-Martinez, 57, on northbound Interstate 35.
As they approached the ramp onto Interstate 635, Rodriguez-Martinez drove into the back of a teenager’s Kia Soul.
The crash pushed the Kia off the left side of the road into a utility box and a light pole. KHP said the driver, a 17-year-old girl, was wearing a seatbelt but was seriously injured. She was taken to the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The suspect, Rodriguez-Martinez, suffered only minor injuries. He was taken to a Kansas City hospital, and it is unclear which charges he may face.
A high-speed police chase in Kansas ended in tragedy after a suspect fleeing law enforcement slammed into the back of a teen’s car, leaving her with serious injuries.
According to local authorities, the incident occurred Tuesday evening when police began pursuing a man suspected of multiple traffic violations and potentially other offenses. The chase reached dangerous speeds as the suspect attempted to evade officers.
As the pursuit continued through city streets, the suspect’s vehicle collided with a car driven by a teenage girl who was reportedly stopped at a traffic light. Witnesses say the impact was so powerful that it crumpled the back of her car, trapping her inside.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and worked to extract the girl from the wreckage. She was transported to a nearby hospital with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries. Her identity has not been publicly released.
The suspect, whose name has not yet been disclosed, was taken into custody at the scene. Charges are pending and may include reckless driving, fleeing police, and vehicular assault.
Police officials have launched an internal review of the chase and its protocols. “This is a heartbreaking outcome,” said a spokesperson for the department. “Our thoughts are with the young victim and her family as she fights to recover.”
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking any witnesses or those with video footage of the incident to come forward. Meanwhile, questions are mounting about the risks of high-speed chases in populated areas and the toll they can take on innocent bystanders.
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