21 February 2023
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City firefighter is charged with three counts of second-degree involuntary manslaughter after a deadly crash in Westport.
Prosecutors said Dominic Biscari was behind the wheel of a Kansas City firetruck when it crashed into an oncoming vehicle and then into a building near Broadway Avenue and Westport Road in December 2021.
The crash killed 41-year-old Jennifer San Nicolas and 25-year-old Michael J. Elwood. Both were in a SUV when it collided with the firetruck. A pedestrian, 41-year-old Tami N. Knight, also died in the crash.
The firetruck was responding to a possible weather-related fire when the department said it was called off and another firetruck was dispatched.
Instead of stopping, video shows the firetruck, with lights and sirens on, continued north on Broadway Avenue and drove through the intersection on a red light. The crash happened about a minute later.
The force of the crash sent the vehicles into a Westport building that partially collapsed.
Court documents show the firetruck was equipped with an onboard Vehicle Data Recorder. The data showed Biscari was traveling 51.48 mph in a 35 mph zone when the crash occurred. The documents show investigators believe the Honda was driving 30 mph in a 25 mph zone.
Biscari is scheduled to be in court Tuesday afternoon and is expected to plea guilty on the charges.
The Kansas City Fire Department declined to comment on Biscari’s employment status or on the charges until after the hearing.
Lawsuits
The families of the three victims filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, fire department and Biscari. The owner of the building that was damaged also sued the city.
In November, the Kansas City Council authorized the city attorney to use $1.8 million to resolve four lawsuits. State law caps the city’s liability for all the lawsuits at $1.8 million.
There are still other lawsuits still pending against Biscari and against the city in this crash.