Full Breakdown
Missouri Businesswoman Killed in Police-SUV Crash
By Drooid · · How we work
Fatal Collision Details
On October 11, Misty Leslie, 48, was driving northbound in a 2022 Audi SQ5 when an Independence Police Department officer in a 2024 Ford Explorer entered the same intersection traveling west on U.S. Highway 24 with emergency lights and siren activated. The officer’s vehicle struck the passenger side of Leslie’s Audi, sending both occupants to the hospital. Leslie sustained critical injuries and later died; the officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police Department Background
Independence police have faced scrutiny over high-speed pursuits. A 2024 newspaper investigation found the department led the Kansas City metro area in pursuit-related crashes, accounting for roughly one-third of regional injuries. Earlier in the year the department revised its policy to restrict pursuits for minor traffic violations and city ordinance offenses. The crash involving Leslie occurred while the officer was responding to an emergency call, not during a pursuit.
Official Statements & Responses
The Independence Police Department said the officer had his lights and siren on at the time of the collision and that preliminary evidence suggests Leslie entered the intersection on a red light while the officer had a green light. The department has not released speed data, the nature of the emergency call, or video footage. Fox News Digital has submitted a public-records request under Missouri’s Sunshine Law for crash reports, dispatch logs, any available video, and the department’s emergency-driving policies. The officer’s employment status after the incident has not been disclosed.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Fox News reports the crash occurred “shortly after 1 a.m.”, whereas the Daily Mail places the time at “around 1:15 a.m.”. Neither outlet provides the officer’s speed, the specific emergency being addressed, or whether the officer was placed on administrative leave.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I do think we have a reputation for pursuing but we still have to balance that risk versus reward,” — Douglas Brinkley, interim police chief
- “If you knew Misty, you knew that woman couldn't do ANYTHING halfway,” — Christel Meinhold
- “I wish we had one more three-hour conversation that solved absolutely nothing,” — Christel Meinhold