PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. —Three people died in an accident just before 12:30a.m. Thursday in Platte County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Edge driven by Kyle A. Mendez, 37, Topeka, was northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 29 just south of the Route E exit.
The SUV struck a southbound 2007 Honda Odyssey driven by Joel Similien, 55, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on. After impact the van traveled off the road and struck a concrete barrier.
Similien and passengers in the van Sheyla Similien, 54, and Michelet Metellus, 52, both of Kansas City, Missouri, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Northland Regional EMS transported Mendez and three of the six passengers in the van Herilert Bellot, Jacnert Lubin, 37 and Franckel Francois, 54, of Kansas City, Missouri, to North Kansas City Hospital. Buchanan County EMS transported one passenger in the van Vladimyr Mercier, 33, Kansas City, Missouri, to Mosaic in St. Joseph.
Mercier and Metellus were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol also did not have the age of Heirlert Bellot.