For Immediate Release
March 29, 2021
A Lee's Summit man, 34, faces a serious felony charge for driving the wrong way while intoxicated, resulting in the death of Kevin Daniels on US 50 Highway in Lee's Summit on March 6, 2021, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Joseph A. Cook, dob: 12/6/1986, faces DW -- Death of Another Not a Passenger, a Class B felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.*
According to court records filed last week, Lee's Summit Police were alerted late on March 6, 2021, that a driver was going in the wrong direction on the highway, U.S. 50, near Colbern Road. The vehicle was reported to be going east bound in the westbound only lanes. Moments later, reports were made of a vehicle crash. Several witnesses reported that a pickup truck was going in the wrong direction. Witnesses identified that the vehicle going the wrong way was the truck driven by the defendant. He was transported to Truman Medical Center. Responders reported he had a strong odor of alcohol and that he was coming from a bar and his speech was slurred. Tests of the defendant's blood showed a high blood alcohol level of .261.
Prosecutors requested a $25,000 bond.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile: (816) 674-3954
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.