Two people were killed in separate traffic crashes where alcohol may have been the cause.
The first crash occurred shortly before midnight Friday. A 47-year-old Kansas City man was riding a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle at Truman Road and Glenwood Avenue in Independence when he lost control and was thrown off. He was pronounced dead at Centerpoint Medical Center.
According to the Independence Police Department, the motorcyclist was driving at a high rate of speed going west on Truman Road before losing control. He had no passenger.
The second crash happened about 1:20 a.m. Saturday morning at Kentucky Road and Arlington Avenue.
A 23-year-old man from Parkville was driving a black 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix westbound on Kentucky Road. The Independence Police Department also believe he was traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control, ran off the road and struck a tree. He was alone in the vehicle.
He was taken to North Kansas City Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Identities of both drivers will not be released until Monday. Both crashes remain under investigation.
Alcohol is believed to have contributed to the motorcycle crash, but police are waiting for toxicology reports before saying whether it was a factor in the Grand Prix crash.
