Kansas City Cyclist Will Baumeister killed in hit-and-run; Relatives asking for help and leads tracking down hit-and-run driver; $500 reward offered

April 8th, 2022, Will Baumeister was killed by a hit-and-run driver while bicycling on Stadium Drive near the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Missouri. 

A detail of the memorial for Will Baumeister in Stadium Drive in Kansas City

Will and his partner, riding just feet away from him, were well lit and riding on a straight and well lit section of road with good visibility.  The speeding driver who struck and killed Will, paused briefly to survey the scene, and then drove off.

Will was a lifelong avid cyclist.  At the time of the crash, Will and his partner Wendy were bicycling as their primary mode of transportation.

Will was well aware of the importance of being well lit while bicycling at night. At the time of the collision, Will was pulling a bicycle trailer.  Both Will's bicycle and the trailer were very well lighted from the rear.

Police have been unable to identify the vehicle or driver, and Will's case has received very little attention in area media or from police.

Help us identify the vehicle and driver - $500 reward

Can you help us spread the word, or provide information to help identify the vehicle or driver involved in this hit-and-run fatality?

MoBikeFed is offering a reward of up to $500 from our new Hit-And-Run Fund, for information leading the identification and conviction of the driver responsible.

• The hit-and-run driver was in a white pickup truck with visible slats or louvers (that looked similar to venetian blinds from a distance) in the side or rear windows. The truck would have had extensive damage to the grill, hood, and probably windshield, too.  That damage is likely repaired by now.
• The truck and driver are likely local to the area near the Truman Sports Complex, in Kansas City or nearby Independence.

If you have any leads to identify this truck or driver, please reach out to director@mobikefed.org or 816-695-6736.

If you can spread the word about this incident and the search for the hit-and-run driver by media, social media, or any other way, please do so.  You are welcome to use any of the information or photographs in this article.

A personal visit to the site of the crash the killed Will Baumeister

Below is a personal report of MoBikeFed's visit to the scene of the fatality with Will's partner: 

A photo of Will in the memorial garden

We visited the Stadium Drive in Kansas City where cyclist Will Baumeister was killed April 8th. Will's SO Wendy, who was with him the night he was killed, showed us around the site.

This is one of the most disturbing bicycle collision scenes we have seen. The pickup was going over 60mph at the time of impact - and perhaps well over that speed. The bicycle trailer and Will's belongings were propelled many hundred feet up the road - an indication of the very high speed the vehicle was traveling.

There was no attempt to brake or slow - no brake or skid marks prior to the collision at all.

Well after the point of collision, the driver then slowed and looked back - but then just drove away.

The crash happened at 10:30pm, but the road is well lit by streetlights *and* Will had good rear lights on both his bicycle and the bicycle trailer. It is a wide straight road with little traffic, perfectly clear sight lines, and plenty of room to pass safely.

Wendy was riding alongside Will when the pickup struck him. The truck just missed her.

Wendy is, understandably, devastated.

The police investigation is stalled. The crash and fatality have received no media attention so far.

Anything you can do to spread the word and help us identify and apprehend this hit-and-run driver is greatly appreciated.

Will's partner Wendy and friends have built and maintained a memorial garden at the crash site.

Will's partner Wendy holds a jacket Will was wearing at the time of the collision.  The collision was so violent the jacket was thrown from his body.

Will Baumeister and his beloved dog

The circle on the pavement is where the furthest piece of debris from the collision was located. In the distance, you can see the memorial garden, which was built just at the point where the speeding vehicle hit Will. The distance debris was thrown gives some idea of the speed the vehicle was traveling at the time of the collision.

Again, if you have any leads to identify this truck or driver, please reach out to director@mobikefed.org or 816-695-6736.

If you can spread the word about this incident and the search for the hit-and-run driver by media, social media, or any other way, please do so.  You are welcome to use any of the information or photographs in this article.

The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation works to defend bicyclist rights and make our roads safer for everyone who uses them, including those who bicycle and walk.  Helping find justice for those who are injured and killed on our roads is an important part of that work.

Improving road safety for all users is one of the four main goals of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri.

Your ongoing membership and generous financial support help turns our Vision into reality!