Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Kansas City

Truman Road recorded 12 traffic deaths in 2022 and 2023 combined, making it the single deadliest non-highway road in Kansas City (KCUR). The road runs east-west through the city's urban core, connecting downtown to Independence through neighborhoods with a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial land uses.

The Oak Street and Truman Road intersection is one of the most dangerous in the metro — 28 crashes with 29 injuries in a single study period (Wendt Law Firm study). That injury-per-crash ratio is among the highest in the city, meaning crashes at this intersection are disproportionately likely to hurt someone seriously.

Truman Road's danger comes from its width and speed. The road was built to move vehicles quickly through the urban core, but the neighborhoods around it have pedestrian activity that this design doesn't account for. High speeds, limited crosswalks, and long distances between traffic signals create conditions where pedestrians and cyclists are exposed to fast-moving vehicles with little protection.

Troost Avenue has recorded 26 traffic deaths over the past decade and more than 3,600 total crashes (The Beacon). The 51st Street and Troost Avenue intersection saw 7 crashes with 3 serious or fatal outcomes from 2018 to 2022. The 75th Street and Troost Avenue intersection recorded 18 crashes with 11 injuries in the Wendt study period.

Troost Avenue is one of Kansas City's most historically significant dividing lines — and one of its most dangerous roads. The corridor runs north-south through the city's urban core, passing through neighborhoods with significant pedestrian activity, bus stops, and commercial establishments. The road's wide lanes and high speeds are mismatched with the dense, walkable neighborhoods it passes through.

The city has received a $10 million federal grant for safety improvements on Prospect Avenue, and Troost has been identified as part of Kansas City's high-injury network. But until road redesign catches up, Troost Avenue will continue to produce crashes at rates far above city averages. If you drive or walk on Troost, use extra caution at every intersection, particularly south of 39th Street.

A KCUR investigation found that half of all Kansas City traffic deaths in 2022-2023 happened on just 10 streets. Beyond Truman Road (12 deaths), the deadliest corridors include Independence Avenue, Prospect Avenue, Troost Avenue, Ward Parkway, US 71, Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard, 39th Street, Gregory Boulevard, and 23rd Street Trafficway.

These streets share common traits: they're wide, they're fast, and they prioritize moving vehicles over protecting people. The 75th Street and Ward Parkway intersection led all Kansas City intersections in total crashes (30 in the study period). Gregory Boulevard and US 71 recorded 24 crashes with 18 injuries and 2 fatalities. 23rd Street and Van Brunt Boulevard saw 24 crashes with 29 injuries.

The racial disparities in these crash patterns are stark. Black residents make up 26% of Kansas City's population but account for 40% of pedestrian fatalities (KCUR). The deadliest streets run disproportionately through historically underinvested neighborhoods where road design has not been updated to match the way people actually use these corridors.

Highways account for nearly one-third of all Kansas City traffic fatalities — roughly 60 or more deaths in 2022-2023 combined. I-70 is the most dangerous, running east-west through the heart of the metro and carrying massive volumes of freight and commuter traffic. The downtown loop, the Benton Curve, and the interchanges with I-435, US 71, and I-35 are persistent crash hotspots (MoDOT).

Kansas City sits at the crossroads of I-70 and I-35 — two of the busiest interstate corridors in the country. The convergence of these highways through the metro core creates complex interchange sequences where drivers must make rapid decisions at highway speeds. The I-70/I-670 split downtown and the I-70/I-49 interchange are especially dangerous, with short weaving distances and confusing signage.

Twelve pedestrians were killed on Kansas City interstate highways alone in 2022-2023. People on foot on these high-speed corridors — whether due to vehicle breakdowns, crashes, or crossing attempts — face extreme danger. If your vehicle breaks down on I-70 or I-35, get as far off the travel lanes as possible, turn on your hazard lights, and call for help from inside your vehicle.

I-435 loops around the Kansas City metro and has high-crash locations at its interchanges with I-70, Front Street, 23rd Street, and I-49 (MoDOT). The beltway carries suburban commuter traffic at high speeds, and the merge zones at major interchanges produce a steady stream of rear-end and sideswipe collisions.

I-35 runs north-south through the metro, carrying freight traffic between Texas and Minnesota through Kansas City's core. The interchange with I-70 downtown is one of the most complex in the region, requiring rapid lane changes across multiple lanes. US 71 (Bruce R. Watkins Drive) runs through the city's urban core and is part of the high-injury network, with the Gregory Boulevard intersection recording 24 crashes including 2 fatalities.

Speed is a dominant factor across the highway network. More than half of all Missouri traffic fatalities involve speed or aggressive driving (MoDOT). The combination of high speeds, heavy truck traffic, and complex interchanges makes Kansas City's highway system consistently dangerous. Sixty-three percent of vehicle occupants killed in Missouri in 2023 were not wearing a seat belt.

A comprehensive study identified 189 dangerous intersections across the Kansas City metro — 163 in Jackson County, 21 in Clay County, and 5 in Platte County (Wendt Law Firm study). The worst intersections by crash frequency: 75th Street and Ward Parkway (30 crashes), Oak Street and Truman Road (28 crashes, 29 injuries), Gregory Boulevard and US 71 (24 crashes, 2 fatalities), and 23rd Street and Van Brunt Boulevard (24 crashes, 29 injuries).

By injury rate, Oak Street and Truman Road and 23rd Street and Van Brunt Boulevard are the most dangerous, each producing 29 injuries in the study period. Other high-injury intersections include 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue (19 crashes, 9 injuries), 27th Street and Jackson Avenue (18 crashes, 7 injuries), and 39th Street and Main Street (17 crashes, 17 injuries — an alarming near-1:1 crash-to-injury ratio).

These 189 intersections are concentrated on the streets identified as Kansas City's high-injury network. If you regularly drive through any of these intersections, approach with extra caution — reduce speed before the intersection, scan for red-light runners, and keep your foot near the brake. A disproportionate number of these crashes involve angle collisions from vehicles running red lights or failing to yield.

In 2022 and 2023 combined, 46 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed on Kansas City roads — roughly a quarter of all traffic deaths. In 2024, 17 pedestrians and 1 cyclist were killed. The 40% overrepresentation of Black residents in pedestrian fatalities — 40% of deaths vs. 26% of the population — points to systematic underinvestment in pedestrian infrastructure in historically Black neighborhoods.

More than 30 children under 19 were killed in Kansas City traffic from 2021 to 2024. The streets where children are most at risk are the same streets that top the overall fatality lists — Truman Road, Prospect Avenue, Troost Avenue, and Independence Avenue. These corridors run through neighborhoods with schools, parks, and bus stops but lack the protected crossings, sidewalks, and traffic calming that would protect young pedestrians.

Kansas City's Vision Zero program, launched in 2020, aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2030. The first 7 Vision Zero intersection redesigns showed a 95% crash reduction from 2022. The program's budget grew from $0 in 2021 to $8 million in 2025-2026, and Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard was reduced from 4 lanes to 2, more than doubling cyclist and pedestrian traffic. But the city's road network is vast, and redesigning 189 dangerous intersections will take years.

After any crash in Kansas City: move to safety if possible, call 911, and request a police report. Missouri law requires drivers to report crashes that involve injury, death, or property damage. Exchange information with the other driver (name, insurance, license plate) and photograph the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries.

Seek medical attention even if you feel fine. High-speed crashes on I-70, I-435, and the city's wide arterial roads frequently cause whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries that don't present symptoms for hours or days. Your medical records from the days immediately following the crash are critical evidence for your claim.

Missouri follows pure comparative fault (RSMo § 537.765) — one of only about 8 states with this rule. You can recover damages even if you're 99% at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your fault percentage. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is 5 years from the date of injury (RSMo § 516.120). For wrongful death, the deadline is 3 years from the date of death. These are longer than most states, but waiting weakens your case.

If you've been in an accident on one of Kansas City's dangerous roads, get your free Injury Claim Check. You'll answer a few quick questions about your accident and injuries, and we'll give you a personalized report that includes Missouri's filing deadline for your claim, your legal options based on the specifics of your crash, and whether connecting with a Kansas City personal injury attorney makes sense for your situation.

Kansas City ranks 5th among the 50 largest U.S. cities for traffic deaths. Nearly 200 people were killed on city roads in 2022-2023, and 189 intersections have been identified as dangerous. If you've been in a crash, find out where you stand.