Motorcycle wreck kills two in Northland

Two people died and another was seriously injured Wednesday night after two motorcycles and a sport utility vehicle were involved in a Northland crash. One motorcyclist also was hit by a tractor-trailer after the accident.

Authorities said they're still piecing together details. About 9:44 p.m., two motorcycles heading north on U.S. 169 near Interstate 435 collided with an SUV heading the opposite direction, authorities said.

Independence resident Lauren R. Hance, 24, who was a passenger on one of the motorcycles, died at the scene.

A minute after that accident, her driver, Emmanuel E. Calderon, 23, of Kansas City, was hit by a southbound tractor-trailer driven by a Georgia man who swerved to avoid him, police said. Calderon was pronounced dead about an hour later, after being taken to a Liberty hospital.

Joel A. Mashburn, 25, of Independence, who was driving the other motorcycle, suffered serious injuries. Authorities said the two motorcycles were traveling together.

John T. Kelly, 52, of Liberty, was driving the SUV.

The Kansas City Star

www.kansascity.com

Thursday, June 23, 2011 1:53 p.m.