PAOLA, Miami County, Kan., Oct. 5, 2026 — A 45-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, man died after he was struck by more than one vehicle on U.S. 169 Sunday night, October 4, according to the Miami County Sheriff's Office. Deputies are now trying to find a possible third vehicle that may have also hit him.
The sheriff's office said the man has been identified as Curtis A. Thaxton, 45, of Kansas City, Missouri. Investigators said the incident began around 10 p.m. on U.S. 169 between Evening Star Road and Pleasant Valley Road, southwest of Osawatomie.
A woman called 911 after she came across Thaxton in the middle of the highway, the sheriff's office said. She reportedly told dispatchers Thaxton ran toward her car, and she backed away from him. While she was still on the phone, she told dispatchers Thaxton had been hit by a vehicle. That driver reportedly turned around and came back to the scene.
As the first deputy arrived, investigators said Thaxton was struck by a second vehicle. That driver initially left but later returned and spoke with deputies. Deputies began lifesaving efforts until Miami County EMS arrived. Thaxton was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether a third vehicle, described as a black Hyundai Tucson with black wheels reportedly traveling northbound on U.S. 169, also struck Thaxton. As of Monday afternoon, authorities had not said the vehicle or its driver had been found. The highway was closed for several hours and reopened around 1 a.m. Monday. The Miami County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating, and the circumstances that put Thaxton in the roadway have not been explained.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the person who died.
A Common Misconception About Pedestrian Crashes on Highways
Many people assume a pedestrian struck by a car at night is almost always at fault for being somewhere they should not be, and that nothing could have been done differently by the drivers involved. The reality is more complicated. Visibility, reaction time, road design and how quickly a scene is reported to emergency crews all shape whether a pedestrian survives being in a roadway, regardless of how they got there.
Multi-vehicle pedestrian strikes, where more than one driver hits the same person in a short span, are rare but not unheard of on high-speed rural highways with limited lighting and few crosswalks. These stretches are built for through traffic, not foot travel, which makes any pedestrian presence harder for approaching drivers to anticipate.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 68,244 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes in 2023. That figure includes a wide range of circumstances, from crosswalk collisions in cities to incidents like this one on rural highways, underscoring that pedestrian risk is not limited to busy intersections or urban streets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the right of way at a crosswalk?
Pedestrians generally have the right of way in marked and unmarked crosswalks at intersections, but drivers are still expected to use reasonable caution everywhere a pedestrian might be present, including roads without crosswalks.
How can drivers reduce the risk of hitting a pedestrian?
Slowing down in low-visibility conditions, scanning the roadway edges and shoulders, and staying alert for people walking in areas without sidewalks or lighting all help drivers spot pedestrians sooner.
What injuries are most common in pedestrian accidents?
Pedestrians struck by vehicles often suffer head trauma, broken bones, and internal injuries. Severity typically depends on vehicle speed and whether the person is thrown or dragged.
What are the most common causes of pedestrian accidents?
Common factors include driver distraction, poor lighting, speeding, and pedestrians entering roadways outside of crosswalks or in areas not designed for foot traffic.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Paola, Kansas
If you witness or are involved in a pedestrian crash, call 911 immediately so emergency crews and law enforcement can respond. Do not move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger, and stay on scene if it's safe to do so since witness accounts are often critical to reconstructing what happened.
Anyone involved, including drivers who make contact with a pedestrian, should remain at the scene and cooperate with responding officers. Seek a medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor, since some symptoms take time to appear. If you have information about a crash under investigation, report it to local law enforcement or an anonymous tip line as soon as possible.
