A Platte County man faces four felony charges in connection with an Oct. 14 crash on Barry Road that left a woman dead and another driver seriously injured.
Brian Martin, 42, of Kansas City, was charged Oct. 15 in Platte County Circuit Court with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action.
Cheryl Bruette, 63, died after the crash near Northwest Barry Road and North Allenton Drive.
Officers responded about 5:15 p.m. and found a gray Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Martin, a silver Honda Accord and a gray Volkswagen Jetta, according to a probable cause statement.
Bruette was removed from the severely damaged Jetta, which was resting against a light pole. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead about 7:50 p.m. The Honda’s driver was hospitalized with serious injuries, according to Sgt. Phil DiMartino of the Kansas City Police Department.
The Honda’s driver told investigators the incident began about two miles away near Green Hills Road. He said drivers honked after the Jeep remained stopped through a green left-turn arrow. When he drove around the Jeep to turn, its driver pulled in front of him and braked abruptly, causing a collision, according to the statement.
Investigators said Martin then chased the Honda. Near Allenton Drive, the Honda slowed to make a left turn or U-turn, and the Jeep struck it, pushing it into the westbound lanes and into Bruette’s Volkswagen, according to the statement.
A witness told police Martin said, “He hit me back there and ran, so I chased him,” according to the statement. Both the witness and the Honda’s driver also said Martin recorded the scene on his cellphone after the crash.
Martin remained at the scene and was taken to police headquarters on a 24-hour investigative hold. Detectives said he refused field sobriety testing, declined to provide a statement and requested an attorney.
After detectives told Martin that a victim had died and the crash was being investigated as a homicide, he expressed remorse, according to the statement.
The department’s Accident Investigation Unit initially responded before homicide detectives took over. Investigators gathered physical evidence and witness statements and sought surveillance footage, DiMartino said.
Martin’s initial arraignment was held Oct. 16 where his bond was set at $250,000.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information submitted to the hotline.
Family releases statement
The family of Cheryl Bruette released a statement Oct. 16:
“Mom lived her life by the Greek word Meraki — To do something with soul, creativity and love. To leave a piece and essence of yourself in your work. Our mom was an artist, she loved her kids, grandkids and trees. Her passion was helping those struggling with grief. The person most equipped to help us through this time is the one no longer with us.
Mom loved football, she loved people, she loved watching football with people. She loved Parkville farmers markets and showing the grandkids the trains. She never missed a birthday, Christmas program, recital or swim meet. She always had a goody bag ready full of art supplies for the kids. The outpouring of support from the community and random people speaks to the joy and tenacity in which she lived her life and impact she made on people. Mom had plenty of challenges in life and a lesser person would have crumbled, but she was a bright light and optimist through it all.
The suddenness of loss is so surreal, forgiveness will be hard to offer. We will not wallow in our pain and grief and one day we may offer that forgiveness, but we will expect justice to be served. Mom would expect us to live as she did, full of life, seeking to leave an essence of ourselves in our work and relationships with others as she did.”
