Marina
At about 3:35 p.m. on Thursday, October 16, 2025, a tragic three-vehicle collision unfolded on westbound I-70 near 18th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, leaving an 80-year-old woman seriously injured.
The crash was caused by a semi-truck driver’s improper lane change that sent the elderly driver’s car spinning across lanes, into the path of a third vehicle.
All parties were wearing seatbelts, but the impact and chain reaction resulted in significant injuries and strain on emergency responders.
The following is a detailed breakdown of what happened, who was involved, the consequences, and what lessons lie ahead.
Crash Overview & Timeline
| Time / Detail | Incident Description |
|---|---|
| 3:35 p.m. | Emergency calls made to area of westbound I-70 near 18th St. |
| Semi truck driver | Moti Korde, age 43, of Kansas City, Missouri, driving a 2022 Kenworth, in the 3rd lane westbound |
| Elderly driver | Ann Wyatt, age 80, of Kansas City, Kansas, driving a 2015 Ford Fusion in 4th lane |
| Improper lane change | Korde moved into Wyatt’s lane, striking rear left side of Fusion |
| Collision result | Fusion spun across lanes and was struck by 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 |
| Third vehicle driver | Raymond Hunter, age 60, of Tonganoxie, driving the Dodge Ram |
| Injuries / transport | Wyatt transported to University of Kansas Medical Center with suspected serious injuries; Hunter reported pain but not transported |
| Semi driver | Korde was uninjured |
| Seatbelt use | All involved were wearing seatbelts |
Parties Involved & Vehicles
- Semi-truck (2022 Kenworth) — driven by Moti Korde (43)
- Ford Fusion (2015 model) — driven by Ann Wyatt (80)
- Dodge Ram 1500 (2008 model) — driven by Raymond Hunter (60)
According to Kansas Highway Patrol, the critical error was Korde’s improper lane change, which clipped Wyatt’s car. That impact caused the Fusion to rotate or spin, crossing multiple lanes, and then a third vehicle, Hunter’s Dodge, collided into it. Korde emerged unscathed; Wyatt was severely injured, and Hunter sustained minor complaints. All belt restraints were in use during the crash.
Injury & Medical Status
- Ann Wyatt, the 80-year-old driver, was taken to University of Kansas Medical Center with suspected serious injuries.
- Raymond Hunter complained of pain at the crash site but was not transported to hospital.
- Korde (semi driver) escaped without physical injury.
- Investigators and troopers confirmed all parties had seatbelts secured, reducing potentially worse outcomes.
- The nature and severity (e.g. fractures, internal trauma) of Wyatt’s condition were not publicly released as of the latest updates.
Contributing Factors & Responsibility
1. Improper Lane Change
- The Kansas Highway Patrol attributes the root cause to the semi’s move into the adjacent lane where Wyatt was traveling.
- The collision point was the rear left corner of Wyatt’s car — a vulnerable area when struck in merging maneuvers.
- The spinning motion indicates the force of impact carried the vehicle across multiple lanes, exposing it to additional collision from the Dodge Ram.
2. Traffic Density & Lane Proximity
- The collision occurred on a multi-lane interstate corridor, where vehicles travel in close proximity at high speeds, leaving little margin for error.
- The semi’s larger mass and momentum amplifies the consequence of abrupt lane changes or misjudgments.
3. Safety Measures & Seatbelt Use
- A positive note: all drivers were belted — a factor frequently cited in reducing the severity of crash injuries.
- The use of proper restraints likely prevented more catastrophic outcomes, particularly for the elderly driver.
Legal, Safety & Community Implications
- Korde may face citations or charges for negligent driving or similar traffic violations depending on further investigation.
- The crash underscores the heightened vulnerability of elderly drivers in high-speed collisions, and the critical importance of defensive driving protocols.
- For communities and departments: this raises questions about interstate lane enforcement, public awareness on merging safely, and continual driver education.
- The stress on local medical facilities and first responders is notable — serious crashes require swift coordination of EMS resources, transport logistics, and lane closure management.
Lessons Learned & Preventive Measures
- Avoid abrupt lane changes — especially in high-speed, multi-lane settings. Use turn signals, check blind spots, and ensure safe clearance.
- Allow buffer space before merging or yielding to traffic flow.
- For older drivers, awareness of reaction times, visibility, and vehicle control is critical, especially when sharing highways with heavy vehicles.
- Continued enforcement and monitoring — troopers and highway agencies may consider increased presence or camera enforcement in high-risk zones.
- Public communication & campaigns — reminding drivers of safe passing protocols, elderly driver safety, and merge discipline.
This tragic incident on I-70 paints a stark picture of how a single wrong maneuver by a large vehicle like a semi truck can have cascading consequences.
An improper lane change, in this case, led to a three-vehicle crash, seriously injuring an elderly woman and impacting multiple lives in seconds.
While seatbelt use undoubtedly mitigated worse outcomes, the crash highlights persistent road safety challenges: vehicle mix, speed, lane discipline, and vulnerability of older drivers.
Accountability and thorough investigations are essential, but so too is prevention: continued public education, enforcement, and infrastructure planning.
Lives are irrevocably changed in these moments — and hopefully, lessons learned will bolster safer driving culture for all road users.