KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Police also identified the pedestrian killed in the collision claimed the life of the Kansas City Police officer and his K9 partner.
The victim was identified as Jesse Eckes, 52.
Officer James Muhlbauer and his K9 Companion Champion they were patrolling near the intersection of Truman Road and Benton Boulevard on Feb. 15 when another vehicle hit their patrol car at around 10:15 p.m.
That crash caused a second collision hitting Eckes who was sitting on the concrete traffic light island. Emergency crews pronounced Eckes dead at the scene.
Jerron Allen Lightfoot, 18, of Tonganoxie, Kansas, was charged with two counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter for the crash.
According to court documents, Lightfoot was speeding the night of the crash, ran through a red light and struck the officer’s vehicle.
Lightfoot told detectives he attempted to brake at a light but claimed his brakes failed. He estimated he was driving between 50-55 mph. Investigators later looked at data from Lightfoot’s vehicle, which showed he was driving at 89.7 mph seconds before the crash and that his brakes were working.
THE visit and funeral service for officer Muhlbauer and K9 Champ will be held on Wednesday February 22nd. Funeral services for Eckes have not yet been announced.
