Missouri Mother Killed in Crash Involving Police SUV Responding to Emergency
An investigation is ongoing into the collision that claimed the life of Misty Leslie, a businesswoman and mother, when an Independence police vehicle struck her car.
A Missouri businesswoman and mother was killed when an Independence Police Department SUV, responding to an emergency, collided with her vehicle. Misty Leslie, 48, died after the police SUV struck the passenger side of her Audi SQ5 at an intersection outside Kansas City shortly after 1 a.m. on October 11.
The Independence Police Department stated that the officer was traveling west on U.S. Highway 24 with emergency lights and siren activated. Early evidence suggests the officer had a green light, while Leslie's northbound vehicle entered the intersection against a red light.
Leslie was transported to a hospital with serious injuries and later died. The police officer involved was also hospitalized but sustained no life-threatening injuries. The department has not released information on the speed of either vehicle or the nature of the emergency call.
The crash occurred months after Independence police implemented stricter pursuit policies. In March, then-interim Police Chief Douglas Brinkley noted that Independence officers conducted 541 pursuits in 2025, significantly more than Kansas City police. A 2024 investigation by The Kansas City Star revealed that Independence led the Kansas City metropolitan area in high-speed pursuits, contributing to a disproportionate number of injuries across the region.
While the department revised its policies to restrict pursuits for minor offenses, this incident involved an officer responding to an emergency, not a pursuit.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Independence Police Department for further details regarding the officer's speed, the specific emergency call, his duty status, and any available video footage of the crash. A public records request has also been submitted under Missouri's Sunshine Law for crash reports, dispatch records, and driving policies.
Misty Leslie was a district manager for Signet Jewelers and the owner of EBW Photography. Her obituary described her as a determined leader and a devoted mother to her daughter, Emarea Leslie. A funeral service was held on October 19 in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been contacted to determine if they are assisting in the investigation.