3 dead, 6 injured after 16-year-old crashes stolen Kia Soul carrying 7 passengers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) – Three people are dead and several were seriously injured when a 16-year-old driver crashed a stolen Kia Soul that had eight people inside, according to police in Missouri.

The Kansas City Police Department is investigating the two-car crash that happened on Tuesday evening at E. 35th Street and Norton Avenue.

Police said it all started when an officer pulled over the blue Kia Soul for a traffic violation. As the officer got out of his vehicle, the Kia sped away.

Police said the officer did not pursue the Kia, but noted that its license plates came back as a stolen car.

As the Kia sped away from the traffic stop, it approached a white Chevrolet Tahoe driving in the same direction on eastbound 35th Street.

As the Chevrolet slowed to make a left turn onto northbound Norton Avenue, the Kia crossed into oncoming, westbound traffic to pass it.

As the Chevrolet started its left turn, the Kia hit it, causing the Chevrolet to spin and end south on Norton Avenue.

The Kia crashed into a large utility pole and flipped onto its roof. The car had eight occupants:

• A 16-year-old male driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
• A 37-year-old male front passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
• A female passenger, whose age wasn’t given, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
• A 20-year-old male passenger sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
• A 4-year-old sitting on the 20-year-old’s lap sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
• A 6-year-old passenger in the middle seat sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
• A 12-year-old in the cargo area sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
• A 13-year-old in the cargo area sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The Chevrolet driver was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.