A suspected drunk driver struck and killed a 23-year-old Kansas University student early Saturday morning as the student was assisting a disabled car along Shawnee Mission Parkway.
Merriam police are waiting to release the student’s name until his family is notified. The man was from France.
A little before 3 a.m. Saturday, the KU student and a friend were having car trouble with a Chevy Cavalier along the roadway over I-35.
The student was pushing the car, which was in the right-hand lane, when he was struck from behind by a Dodge Dakota pickup truck, according to the police.
Medical personnel declared the man dead at the scene. The other man in the car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the police.
Steven Cummins, a 25-year-old Shawnee man, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence shortly after the incident. Cummins is booked at the Johnson County Adult Detention Centers with a $250,000 bond.
Comments
chocolateplease 8 years, 4 months ago
This is a terrible tragedy, heartbreaking for this young mans' family getting the call in France. Our thoughts are with you.
RedwoodCoast 8 years, 4 months ago
I know the guy who survived. Freaking crazy.
workinghard 8 years, 4 months ago
Does anyone know if he was from France or an island off of France. Is he a current student or could he have graduated last May?
jayhawk00 8 years, 4 months ago
He was a current student and a really good guy. Damn.
rusty2 8 years, 4 months ago
horrible.
workinghard 8 years, 4 months ago
Thanks so much jayhawk00, sorry for your loss.
independent_rebel 8 years, 4 months ago
I was just on that road today and just read about this. Very sad.
Evan Ridenour 8 years, 4 months ago
This is horrible... and a perfect example of why the penalty for drunk driving needs to be more severe than it is. This mans life was ended for no reason other than one idiot choosing to hop in his vehicle while hammered instead of shelling out some cash for a taxi or getting a friend to drive him home. Every single time someone drives drunk an event like this is likely to happen...
Sharon Aikins 8 years, 4 months ago
But it's gonna keep happening because there is so little we can do about drunk drivers until they hurt or kill someone else or themselves. They'll even drive on suspended licenses and with a couple of DUI's under their belt. Senseless loss of a young man's life. I feel so sorry for his family. Would be even harder being so far away.
snook3200 8 years, 4 months ago
this was a pure shame. until tires on vehicles are locked down and punishment is given out so offenders cannot drive by chance nothing will change. people drive even when court tell them they cant. and that is why tires need to be locked down on offenders.
OldEnuf2BYurDad 8 years, 4 months ago
One of my best friends in high school had an alcoholic father. He totalled his own car a few times, so then no one would let him drive. But then he'd sneak people's car keys from them, and he ended up totalling out my friend's truck. You can't "lock down" cars on drunks. That doesn't do as much as you'd think.We will NEVER see an end to drunk driving by simply making the penalties more severe or by placing restriction on people. We must address the issue of addiction in our society with a more sober attitude (no pun intended). We are overly permissive about what some call "partying" and it leads people down the path of addiction. An addict will drive regardless of the law, because they are not in control of themselves. That's the nature of addiction.
yellowhouse 8 years, 4 months ago
I have had a brother and two cousins die at the hands of drunk drivers. Totally senseless tragedy.
hawkfan_05 8 years, 4 months ago
What if the driver of the car had been sober? What then? I know this is terrible, but what's your excuse for being angry if the driver that killed him was sober, not on a cell phone, not eating, not putting on makeup, not yelling at kids in the backseat, paying attn the best they could and just happened to sneeze or something at the absolute worst time and caused this?And "lock down"? What the heck does that even mean? Jail for the rest of their life for having a DUI? Maybe the government should take away DRINKING rights instead of driving, seeings how the drinking is the problem not the driving! The bar is supposed to check every ID anyway, so maybe a website the bar can check to see if that person is allowed to drink. Dumb idea but hey obviously the taking of the DL away is NOT WORKING!!!!
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