The investigation into what caused or contributed to a single-vehicle crash that killed an off-duty Lawrence Police officer early Wednesday could take several weeks, according to Lt. Josh Kellerman, spokesman for the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Officer Matthew Edward Klock, 29, was killed when his personal vehicle hit a traffic signal pole near the intersection of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive around 2:15 a.m., according to the KHP, which is investigating the case.
According to the KHP report, Klock's 2012 Nissan Altima was heading east on Sixth Street when his vehicle went through the intersection at Wakarusa Drive, crossed the center line and struck a light pole in the center median of Sixth Street.
Klock — who was the only person in the vehicle and was dead at the scene — had been a member of the Lawrence department since 2007.
The KHP report says Klock was not wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred. Kellerman said the KHP will have more to release after an autopsy and toxicology reports are complete, but he did not have a time estimate for how long that could take.
Kellerman said he could not say whether or not alcohol was a factor in the accident.
Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley said the death of Klock — whose family lives in the Derby area — has had a deep effect on the police department and the law enforcement community.
"This is his extended family," McKinley said.
Comments
patkindle 4 months, 2 weeks ago
EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE NEED TO DIG IN EVERYONE ELSES DIRT I AM NOT SURE WHOSE BUSINESS IT IS WHAT HAPPENED (EXCEPT FOR HIS FAMILY )SINCE NO OTHER PARTIES WERE INVOLVED.
BlackVelvet 4 months, 2 weeks ago
And you're just hoping that's the case, aren't you...Your parents must be so proud.
sleepy33 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Technically, it's a violation of Kansas law to operate a motor vehicle while not wearing a seat belt.
Starlight 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I've said it many times before. A seatbelt will keep you behind the wheel and possibly in control of your car in an accident. How would a person feel surviving an accident but then watching from the back seat as their driverless car mowed down a bunch of children?? I do not understand any driver's decision to not wear a seat belt. They save lives and in the scenario I describe other innocent lives. Seat belt laws are not just for the driver's benefit but protect everyone else too.
notwhatyouthink 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree and look he was punished for the crime. Next time you are caught not wearing a seat belt I hope you get the death penality too!
none2 4 months, 2 weeks ago
This man lost his life, and our thoughts should be with his family and friends. Not one freaking world of your ranting and raving said anything about condolences. Maybe you should look inward, before having an emotional outburst to condemn others.
As to what happened, that will come out in time. The accident happened on a public street, involved a public light, could have involved icy roads, tied up traffic, and most of all involved the loss of a public servant. It is going to make the news whether you like it or not.
So chill out.
mom_of_three 4 months, 2 weeks ago
So they should "rant and rave" and then offer condolences? and our "thoughts should be with this family?" really, seriously? since when does someone HAVE to offer condolences when they post on an article?
I posted yesterday what a tragedy this was, but I take a little offense at someone who tells me where my thoughts should be and who i should be thinking about. and FYI, my thoughts are with those who had to work an accident of a co worker. and I do feel awful for those who have lost a family member or friend. I imagine we all do, but just dont put it into words.
And I have lost a dear friend in an auto accident where she was not wearing a seat belt that could have saved her life. So yes, I, too, wonder why anyone doesn't wear one. perhaps it was habit, I dont know.
just had to mention my two cents.
none2 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I almost lost a friend due to a man who had multiple DUI's. Luckily she survived. I wish I could say I had 100% seat belt compliance, but I don't. It is more likely around 90-95% of the time. The required alarm when not wearing them helps.
The reason I posted earlier, is that I didn't appreciate someone SCREAMING (all cap letters) that basically the entire article should never be written because it is none of our business. Such a post has nothing to do with compassion and everything to do with a screaming control-freak. No I don't expect every single post to say "_ (fill in with deity of choice) bless the family & friends", but neither do I expect screams or saying we are children who should not be allowed to read. If I wanted drama after hearing about a death, I'd go find out what sidewalk Mr. Phelps is currently picketing and camp out there for the entertainment.
Any death is tragic. I would rather have an article about it in the newspaper, then only hear about it as gossip. Sure the postings can get out of hand, but subsequent articles I'm sure will put most of the untruths to bed. We simply have to wait.
Keep in mind that regardless of what happened, it isn't fair to judge a person by entirely by the last few minutes of their life. (Obviously, I'm not referring to situations such as mass killers.) This man did live on this earth for 29 years. If he gave joy to his loved ones over those years, that is what they should remember.
jayhawks8519 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Yeah because there is a ton of "tied up traffic" after 2 am on 6th and Wakarusa.
superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Let me ask you one question. If a private citizen is obviously traveling at a high rate of speed at 2:15am,not wearing a seat belt, crosses the median and strikes a traffic signal pole...what is your first thought?
jayhawks8519 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Caps Lock button is located to the left of the 'A' key. Press it. As a civil servant, if his death was result of illegal activity, then the public deserves to know.
LarryNative 4 months, 2 weeks ago
+1
jw721 4 months, 2 weeks ago
What a sad thing to happen, my condolences to the family and friends.
Lynn731 4 months, 2 weeks ago
My deepest sympathy to brother Klock's family. I will be praying for you. I lost a family member suddenly and unexpectedly. Nothing helped me but the passage of time. God Bless You.
Frankie8 4 months, 2 weeks ago
My faith tells me that this man who has passed is now with those of his family who have passed before him. Some call it heaven, I don't think it has a name, but people need something as a reference point. The God I believe in is loving and merciful and welcoming to all those who pass on. Which does not mean that those left behind will not grieve the departure of their love one and miss him. As Lynn wrote time has to pass and the grieving have to come to terms with their loss, a very hard thing to do.
It is also time to let his family rest in peace.
teller 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Very well said. He will be very missed by his friends and family true and blue.
Bouncer 4 months, 2 weeks ago
All accidents involving deaths are investigated as per the law. And the record is public information. We may find that he was perfectly clean. if that is the case further investigation may be needed. Such as was the Nissan defective. Had he worked a double shift or a whole host of other issues.
Eddie_Haskell 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Matt arrested me in 2011, I had one other incident involving him, and I had nothing but the utmost respect for this young man. He was kind, respectful, and an officer the LPD and his family should be proud of. I feel overwhelmingly sad about his death.
bearded_gnome 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Kellerman said he could not say whether or not alcohol was a factor in the accident.
---so reads the article. it means what it says.
police officers do face unique stressors and there are people who are out to get them just because they are officers. theirs is not a profession like auto mechanic or painter.
I can conceive of innocent reasons why he would have been found without his seatbelt on in that accident.
I hope readers will try to give him more benefit of the doubt in the absence of information.
superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Again...If it was a private citizen would we give them the benefit of the doubt?
jayhawks8519 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Why would a POLICE OFFICER (click it or ticket in Kansas, right?) have any "innocent" reason for driving in a 45mph zone without a safety belt, or any zone for that matter?
DougCounty 4 months, 1 week ago
Try this on--it's really easy: at 2am, you're tired, so tired you forget to put on your seatbelt, so tired that you drift off the road.
jayhawks8519 4 months, 1 week ago
If you're that tired, you shouldn't be getting into a car. Also, a 2012 Nissan is what he was driving, which undoubtedly has a safety belt sensor and alarm if it isn't in place. Quit making excuses; especially that someone who is "so tired" they miss a seatbelt alarm. Driving exhausted is more dangerous than driving under the influence so what wins?
DougCounty 4 months, 1 week ago
So you've never driven while exhausted? You've never heard that little bell going off after starting to drive somewhere without your seatbelt on? You asked for an innocent reason and I gave you the innocent reason, period.
Mike Riner 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I did not know Matt but feel the sadness that all of LKPD must been feeling now. I wish everyone would just wait for the KHP to complete their investigation before jumping to conclusions. KHP will tell what the evidence shows and will not cover anything up. But please, let's be respectful and not assume what occurred. None of us were there.
dinoman 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I too am very sorry for the loss his family has suffered. But I am also aware of the fact that because of who he was and where he worked he like all other police officers should be held to a higher standard, they should be a shining example to all, now having said that,,, it does pose several questions, some of which I believe could and should be released. First was he just getting off shift was he speeding... these are simple questions that dont need investigation, and may help us the public be at peace a little bit.... The thing that seems the most unsetteling is why are we still discussing his accident there are very few topics that the LJW deems fit to report yet they saw fit to report the same story twice... no new news.... makes me wonder dosn't it you .... and the fact that it happend at 2 am.... not wearing a seatbelt.... crossed the center line.... hit and damaged cityproperty, that we will have to pay to fix..... all of this within the city limits and last but not least.... I believe the speed limit there shouldn,t allow for a small car by itself on the road to result in a death.... something sounds strange...oh and another thing... isnt the street six lanes wide at that point including the turn lanes....just saying it doesnt add up...... my dad used to say "if it loks like a fish it must be a fish"....well if this was joe blow down the street... they would have no problem telling the public some of the information that the city department is withholding.....fishy ,,,,, just plain fishy..
superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Well said.
tanaumaga 4 months, 2 weeks ago
You really are the realest mccoy. For real. No, I really, really mean it. I had no idea . Totally.
kasper 4 months, 2 weeks ago
totally sucks that people act the way they do. no matter what this dude did he is a human. we all make mistakes. the loss of a friend is difficult enough without a bunch of people acting like they are god. just remember judge and ye shall be judged. no one is better than anyone else.
superswagg56 4 months, 2 weeks ago
But didn't you know? LEO's are better than the rest of us. If you don't believe it just ask one.
Dec84 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Dino.
Eddie_Haskell 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Dino, you are the coolest. Jump in on On the Street sometime. We have fun there, mostly.
jayhawks8519 4 months, 2 weeks ago
If investigators find that he was under the influence, what are the repercussions? If an LPD officer endangered other citizens by driving under the influence, then some action will be necessary to address the case. I'd pay a cent higher tax for a year to put breathalizers in LPD personally owned vehicles because they are supposed to be the example setters as public servants. If an officer was driving drunk, then the LPD needs to pay somehow. There is no excuse... at least that's what you'd tell civilians in the same situation.
If it is discovered that he wasn't under the influence, then okay, carry on.
gl0ck0wn3r 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Uh, yeah. I dislike drunk drivers as much as the next person, but this is the most logically flawed argument I've seen yet... Not to mention the fact that you are jumping the gun a bit. Can't you wait until the body is cold before you start complaining about the LPD?
jayhawks8519 4 months, 1 week ago
No because people would be all over social media and television telling their friends not to drive drunk and getting all "progressive" (like on gun control after Belcher, or whatever the hot topic is that week depending on the tragedy that surely happened) had it been a civilian. Just saying, I wouldn't trust just anyone with a badge, so officers should be held to a higher standard. No? Well I guess we should just give weapons and the community's well-being to a bunch of schmucks who we don't respect if police officers aren't held to a higher standard.
jayhawks8519 4 months, 2 weeks ago
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
jayhawks8519 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Whatever happened to investigative journalism?
hackman 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Seems like our community has members with not enough to do . Police officers are human beings and ALL human beings make mistakes, as you all do. Spend more time helping and not hurting. RIP Matt, you will be missed by most.
Hoots 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Buckle up people. I've been to a number of high performance driving schools over the years and one thing they drove home is that airbags are dangerous if you're not buckled up. It's so sad that one very simple omission took this officer from his loved ones. The accident didn't look all that severe if you saw the scene. If you're not restrained you can slide around or under the airbag.
hackman 4 months, 2 weeks ago
jayhawks8519 IF it wasn't for the word IF, you'd have a tough time talking. IF that makes sense to you , honk IF that's what you like . IF..IF..IF..
jayhawks8519 4 months, 1 week ago
See there is something called speculation, which is what is all over these comments, including mine. However, I did post something that proved some of the things I was IF-ing about, but it was taken down because this site didn't break the news first. I said IF because although it looks like a horse and smells like a horse, I'm not going to definitively call it a horse yet because it is all speculation.
jayhawks8519 4 months, 1 week ago
It is obvious that what I wrote hits home hard with you because otherwise you wouldn't be arguing semantics.
bearded_gnome 4 months, 2 weeks ago
^^superswagg56 10 hours, 51 minutes ago
Again...If it was a private citizen would we give them the benefit of the doubt?
---Superswagg56, I hope so: until more is known for certain. put it in your own circumstances SS56, say you die suddenly, wouldn't you wish others to give you the benefit of any doubt, wouldn't you wish to be judged later by more certain information? wouldn't you wish to be judged in your death by other than prejudices against your particular accident, or your profession?
bearded_gnome 4 months, 2 weeks ago
and yes I do expect better from LEO's Superswagg: they've had driving training. they have more expected of them on and off duty.
you will scoff at this, but it is true, the training and selection process does identify strong public servants for our community overall. of course they're human, and the screening and training processes do soetimes fail, but those are the exceptions.
I also expect more from LEO's because of the meaning and history of the badge.
I'm sorry your parents raised you with such poor values.
bearded_gnome 4 months, 2 weeks ago
^^jayhawks8519 11 hours, 15 minutes ago
Why would a POLICE OFFICER (click it or ticket in Kansas, right?) have any "innocent" reason for driving in a 45mph zone without a safety belt, or any zone for that matter?
---as I've posted before on this topic, I don't want to get into suppositions because I think that'd be wrong.
but it isn't hard to conceive of equipment failure. or, nonalcohol mental impairment due to serious medical conditions, thus he wasn't thinking straight.
one condition I'm particularly familiar with, hypoglycemia, could've resulted in him trying to go get help and not being in his full mental faculties.
but I'm only throwing these out as possibilities to suggest that we must be very considerate of Officer Klock in death in the absence of any definite information.
God grant his family and friends peace as they mourn.
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