Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash during police chase with highway patrol

A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle and killed during a police chase in Kansas City Wednesday morning, according to a crash log.

Officers with the Kansas City Police Department were called just after 1 a.m. to E. 18th St. and Prospect Ave. to assist with a reported fatal hit-and-run crash.

According to a preliminary investigation, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol was in pursuit of a white Chevrolet Trax that was driving erratically in the area.

The police chase was on E. 18th St. heading toward Prospect when a pedestrian was crossing 18th Street from the south to the north in a marked crosswalk.

Police said the Chevy Trax hit the pedestrian in the crosswalk, then continued driving east on 18th St. without stopping.

The highway patrol trooper immediately stopped the pursuit to assist the pedestrian, police said.

Paramedics responded and pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene. Police have not yet identified the person who died.

The crash marks Kansas City’s 43rd traffic death this year, according to police department data. At this time last year, the city had recorded 44 fatal traffic incidents.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.