MERRIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT

9010 W. 62nd Street, Merriam, KS 66202, 913-322-5560

One of the fundamental duties of any police department is to investigate motor vehicle accidents. The City of Merriam has 65 miles of roadway within its borders, including approximately 3 miles of interstate highway. According to data provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) the portion of Interstate 35, just north of 75th Street, is the busiest section of highway in the State of Kansas. KDOT estimates that over one hundred thousand cars drive through the city each day.

With the types of roadways that run through Merriam, coupled with the high number of businesses and general drive-through traffic, the problem of traffic control and accident investigation is a full-time challenge. A study conducted by the Kansas Department of Transportation indicated that the City of Merriam has the highest per capita accident rate of any city in the state. In 2002, the department began a more aggressive approach to traffic enforcement, which eventually led to the creation of our Traffic Enforcement Unit in 2005.

2010 CRASH FACTS

There were 486 motor vehicle accidents reported to the Merriam Police Department.

Of this total 77 of the accidents involved some level of personal injuries. This is a 10% decrease from 2009.

There were 16 accidents which were determined to be alcohol related. This equates to approximately 3% of the total.

Hit-and-run accidents reported and investigated in 2010 totaled 87, which is a 6% increase from 2009.

There were 39 private property and 33 minor accident reports taken in Merriam. This figure is a 22% increase from 2009.

There were 2 reported fatality accidents in Merriam. They occurred at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Robin Hood and Shawnee Mission Parkway and Goodman. Alcohol was a factor in one accident.

Overall, the city experienced a 15% decrease in the number of accidents as compared to 2009.

NOTE: The above statistics do not include accidents reported to KHP that occurred on I-35.