For Immediate Release
Oct. 31, 2017
A Lee's Summit teenage has been charged in connection with the crash that killed two other teenagers in Jan. 2017 in south Kansas City, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Rodriquez Franklin, dob: 8/19/1998, faces two counts of DWI -- Death of Another or in the alternative two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter 1st Degree.
According to court records filed today, Kansas City police responded to a vehicle collision in the area of 73rd and Prospect Avenue. Two of the vehicle's passengers were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as Kaeden M. Hernandez, dob: 11/10/1998, and Zachary M. Meyers, dob: 12/17/1998. The defendant was the removed from the driver's seat by emergency responders. A police investigation of the wreck revealed that the vehicle driven by the defendant was driving at excessive speed when the defendant lost control, striking a curb and a large tree. Witnesses told the defendant's vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, between 100 to 120 mph, according to one witness, behind another vehicle driven by the defendant's girlfriend. She told police she was attempting to get away from vehicle and didn't know who was driving it.
Prosecutors requested a $50,000 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.