March 8th, 2023 – A wrong-way driver on US 69 Highway and Rhodus Road, near the Midwest National Air Center and Pour Boy service station, caused a head-on collision resulting in one driver sustaining injuries. According to the crash report provided by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the accident happened around 12:52 pm when a 2007 white Nissan Sentra, driven by Jose Rodriguez-Martinez of Kansas City, MO, pulled out in front of a 2023 purple Jeep Rubicon, driven by Jennifer Pence of Kearney, MO.
Witnesses, who were driving in front of Pence’s Rubicon, stated that the Rodrigues-Martinez nearly collided with the rear of their vehicle but they were able to accelerate, narrowly avoiding the collision.
Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy MacDonald who arrived on the scene, observed the Rubicon on its side in the middle of the road with EMS attempting to extract Pence from her vehicle. MacDonald then found Rodriguez-Martinez in the back seat of his vehicle.
When approached for his statement, Rodriguez-Martinez, who did not speak English, explained through a pedestrian’s assistance that his GPS instructed him to take a right turn to go northbound in the southbound lanes of US-69 Highway. He said he then noticed the “do not enter” signs and immediately stopped in the roadway, after which the Rubicon collided with his vehicle head-on.
Rodriguez-Martinez refused medical attention, while Pence was taken to Liberty Hospital for an apparent broken wrist among other injuries. Both vehicles had severe damage and had to be towed from the scene. Rodriguez-Martinez was issued three citations, including careless and imprudent driving, no valid driver’s license, and failure to provide financial responsibility (No Automobile Liability Insurance). The court date for all citations has been set for May 17th, 2023, at 0900 hours at the Clay County Courthouse, Division 6.
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