KC man pleads guilty to array of charges stemming from fatal crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A 24-year-old Kansas City man pleaded guilty today to charges stemming from a fatal accident on June 27, 2011. Jonathan Ross pleaded guilty to: 1^st degree involuntary manslaughter, 1^st degree tampering with a motor vehicle and three counts of 2^nd degree assault, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, stealing a motor vehicle and a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended/revoked license.

According to court documents witnesses say that Ross was driving a red Dodge Dakota 80-100 MPH eastbound near 12^th and Hardesty when he failed to stop at a red light and struck a white Lincoln. The driver of the Lincoln, identified as Gertrude Price, was ejected and then pinned underneath Ross’ vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others in that vehicle, Grace Price and Kenneth Smith, suffered serious injuries. Another victim at the scene, Roy Brooks, also suffered serious injuries when his white Ford was struck by the two vehicles in the initial crash.

Ross fled the scene and was apprehended by a witness who held him until police arrived. Upon investigation officers discovered that Ross had his driver’s license revoked for prior DWI convictions. They also observed that his eyes were watery and bloodshot. Ross submitted to a chemical test of his blood and registered a BAC of .126% two hours after the crash and .110% three hours after the crash, both in excess of the legal limit of .08%.

It was also discovered that the vehicle Ross had used was reported stolen from a business parking lot at 17520 E. US 24 Highway in Independence two days before the crash. A statement says that Ross had broken a steering column off of a vehicle and used is to break through a locked gate. Ross left the business in a Jeep Liberty and then returned to the business and left in a different vehicle, the red Dodge Dakota that was involved in the fatal crash. In the process of fleeing the business Ross also damaged three other vehicles.

Ross has pleaded to all charges as a persistent felony offender. He’s set to be sentenced on July 26.