A 40-year-old man died in a car accident after an off-roading crash left him pinned underneath his own car, with his son and his friend inside.
The Kansas Highway Patrol log confirmed that the accident occurred on September 10 at 1:25 p.m. in Bourbon County, Kansas. The man has since been identified as Caleb Hopkins of Kansas City, Missouri.
According to reports, the crash was an accident during off-roading, which sees drivers go over unpaved surfaces, like sand, gravel, mud, snow or rocks.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers found a 2018 Jeep Wrangler flipped on the driver's side, leaving Hopkins pinned underneath. Hopkins has been driving east on 39 title drop-off near 130th street. Kansas Highway Patrol indicated that Hopkins appeared to lose control of the vehicle while driving down the drop-off.
Off-roading group Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, which Hopkins was apparently a member of, shared the news of his death in an online post.
"It is with deep sadness and very heavy hearts that we inform you of a tragic accident at KRocks yesterday where we lost a friend in an off-roading accident," the off-roading venue posted on Facebook. "We ask that each of you keep Caleb Hopkins' wife, children, family and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."
Hopkins was pronounced dead at the scene. His nine-year-old son and another 12-year-old child were both in the car, but were able to escape from the crashed car with no major injuries.
The Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed that all of the passengers had been wearing their seatbelts at the time of the incident.
According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year, a 10.5 percent increase from 2020. That's the largest percentage yearly increase in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System's history.
"Behind each of these numbers is a life tragically lost, and a family left behind," the organization noted.
Newsweek has contacted Kansas Highway Patrol for comment.
In August, a woman was arrested after a road rage crash in California that ultimately led to the amputation of a driver's limb.
The driver allegedly rammed her Jeep Wrangler into a Tesla on State Route 91 in Corona. All of the victims involved in the crash were taken to hospital with "major" injuries and one victim even required the amputation of limbs.
Last week, a salon worker captured the moment an elderly driver accidentally crashed her car into the store front, smashing the entire glass front. The worker explained that the driver was believed to have accidentally pressed the wrong pedal, causing her to drive into the store.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
