Woman making sandwich in minivan without seat belt critically injured in Kansas City crash

An unrestrained passenger, who was making a sandwich in the back of a minivan, was critically injured when the vehicle she was in rear ended a truck hauling dirt during a collision in south Kansas City, a police spokeswoman said.

The crash occurred shortly before 8 a.m. along eastbound Missouri 150 highway and Prospect Avenue in south Kansas City.

A GMC C7500 truck hauling dirt had just pulled onto the highway and was beginning to increase speed to the speed limit. Meanwhile, a silver Chevrolet Venture mini-van was headed east at high speeds, said Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department.

The driver of the van, who was exceeding the speed limit, overtook the truck and was not able to stop. The minivan collided with the truck and the minivan’s right side went up underneath the rear of the truck, she said.

During the crash, an unrestrained adult passenger was thrown forward into the back of the front seats, critically injuring her. She was taken to a hospital, Drake said. Meanwhile the driver of the minivan and the driver and two passengers in the truck were not injured.

The eastbound lanes of Missouri 150 were closed for about two hours while police investigated the crash.