Kansas City police say a high-speed collision Wednesday afternoon on southbound Interstate 29 near Northwest 64th Street left a teenage motorcyclist dead and prompted a prolonged closure of the roadway. The crash, investigators say, involved a Kawasaki Ninja and a white Freightliner pulling an unloaded flatbed trailer.
What happened
Police reported the crash occurred around 4:11 p.m. The motorcyclist was traveling at what officers described as a "very high rate" of speed, weaving through traffic and splitting lanes before striking the rear of the semi, according to the department. The impact threw the rider from the motorcycle; the bike then caught fire and became engulfed.
"The rider was traveling at a very high rate of speed, weaving through traffic and splitting lanes before striking the rear of the semi,"
First responders pronounced the rider dead at the scene. Police identified him as Brody Schleuger, 17. The truck driver was not injured. Authorities closed all lanes of a portion of southbound I-29 for several hours while investigators processed the scene.
Local impact and response
The crash took place in Platte County but on an interstate corridor many Kansas Citians use for commuting and regional travel. Lane closures on I-29 during the evening can ripple across alternate routes and delay emergency response and freight movement. Kansas City police did not release additional details on charges or citations; the department continues to investigate.
- Time: Approx. 4:11 p.m., Wednesday
- Location: Southbound I-29 near Northwest 64th Street
- Victim: Brody Schleuger, 17
- Vehicles: Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle; Freightliner semi with unloaded flatbed trailer
- Road status: All southbound lanes shut for several hours during investigation
What we know and what remains
Investigators have described the motorcycle's speed and maneuvers as factors in the crash; they also confirmed the bike ignited after the impact. Beyond those details and identification of the victim and the truck, police have not released further findings or any potential citations against the truck driver. Crash reconstruction and interviews with witnesses will be part of the ongoing probe.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Incident time | About 4:11 p.m. |
| Road | Southbound I-29 |
| Victim | Brody Schleuger, 17 |
This crash is a grim reminder of the danger high speeds and lane-splitting present on busy interstate corridors. As Kansas City continues to manage growth in traffic and freight, collisions like this also spotlight enforcement and public-education questions that officials and community leaders will likely revisit as the investigation proceeds.
