Statement on November 2023 double fatality on Interstate 70. – Lee’s Summit Tribune

For immediate publication

May 10, 2024

The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office issued the following statement this afternoon regarding a two-fatal crash on Interstate 70 in November 2023.

On November 6, 2023, a stolen vehicle driven by a 15-year-old unlicensed driver crashed on Interstate 70 east of Lee’s Summit Road. The vehicle overturned and landed on its roof. Witnesses stopped to help. Robert Piper of Blue Springs was a good Samaritan that night and helped a young man who was injured in the accident and later pronounced dead. Piper died when he was struck by Monaco’s vehicle.

The state’s defendant, Michael Monaco, was driving on Interstate 70 when he came across the scene of an accident caused by the underage driver just minutes earlier. Several other vehicles had managed to avoid and avoid the accident, but Monaco had not. He didn’t brake. He swerved at the last moment before hitting the overturned car and Piper.

The original accident scene was caused by the teenager destroying the stolen vehicle. The underage driver was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident. All charges against this youth would be handled by family court.

Monaco today pleaded guilty to the offense of negligent and careless driving. He agreed to pay a $2,000 fine. There is no evidence that the defendant was impaired by alcohol or drugs.

This represents the most appropriate outcome to the portion of this tragedy that falls within the jurisdiction of the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. Our community, especially young teenagers, should heed a lesson here about life and death. Underage drivers under the influence pose a deadly danger. Our condolences go out to the families of both victims, one who died young and promising and the other who was simply trying to provide help and comfort.