Drunken driver admits causing 150 mph wreck that killed Northland woman

A Kansas City man admitted his role Thursday in an August car crash that killed a 22-year-old Platte City woman.

John McNamara, 27, pleaded guilty in Platte County Circuit Court to involuntary manslaughter and assault in the crash, which occurred when his car struck the rear of another on Interstate 29 near Barry Road.

Tests taken later at a hospital revealed McNamara's blood alcohol content to be 0.171, about twice the legal driving limit. Data retrieved from McNamara's car indicated that he had been driving at 152 miles per hour 2.5 seconds before the collision.

The crash killed Abby Cockrill, 22.

Cockrill, a passenger in the car that McNamara struck, was scheduled to graduate from Northwest Missouri State University in December with a degree in early childhood development. She had begun her student teaching at a Platte City elementary school and had accepted a position as a youth minister at her church.

Eric Zahnd, Platte County prosecuting attorney, described McNamara's behavior as "nearly unimaginable," adding, "No one in my office can remember a case of a car going 152 miles per hour, much less while the driver was drunk.

"I will ask the court to sentence him to a very long prison sentence in this case."

McNamara faces up to 15 years for the manslaughter charge and up to seven years for second-degree assault. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 10.