David Raines Jr. Killed in Independence Pedestrian Accident
41-year-old man struck and killed by fleeing vehicle on North M-291 Frontage Road
David Raines Jr., 41, was killed in a hit-and-run crash on North M-291 Frontage Road near Third Terrace Court in Independence on May 23, according to police.
The collision occurred just before 11:30 p.m. Evidence at the scene indicated a vehicle struck the man and fled the area before paramedics arrived.
The driver remains at large. Officers discovered the victim, Raines Jr., lying in the road with critical injuries. He died at the scene. Paramedics were unable to revive him.
The crash adds to a rising toll across the state, as the Missouri Department of Transportation reported 148 pedestrian death in 2024, a 16% increase from the previous year.
The department's Accident Investigations Unit is handling the ongoing search for the suspect vehicle. No vehicle description has been released.
How common are hit-and-run pedestrian accidents in Missouri?
The death of David Raines Jr. highlights a growing crisis on Missouri roadways, where pedestrian death have surged in recent years. In hit-and-run pedestrian accidents such as this, traffic safety analysts note that nighttime visibility and roadway design often play critical roles in crash frequency.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Serious pedestrian collisions sometimes involve difficult questions about visibility, driver attention and roadway safety conditions before impacts occur. Poor lighting, distraction and heavy traffic may create dangerous situations for pedestrians traveling near intersections, sidewalks or parking areas."
Legal counsel may support surviving relatives by coordinating evidence collection, reviewing crash reports and communicating with insurance companies during complex investigations, added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What happens next in the Independence police investigation?
"The consequences for pedestrians are often fatal given the physical disparity between a vehicle and an unprotected person. Legal counsel can pursue cellphone records, review electronic data, and consult crash reconstruction specialists to determine whether driver inattention played a decisive role in causing catastrophic pedestrian injuries," noted Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Law enforcement will likely review surveillance footage from nearby businesses along the North M-291 Frontage Road corridor to identify the fleeing vehicle. Investigators typically analyze debris left at the scene, such as paint chips or broken headlight glass, to determine the make and model of the suspect's car. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrians made up 18% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2024, highlighting the heightened risks they face when drivers fail to stop and render aid.
Missouri wrongful death statute
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.080, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Missouri applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and aggravating circumstances damages.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of income and companionship, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident.