An off-duty Kansas City Police officer was critically injured and his wife killed in a one-car accident occuring around 3:15 a.m. Sunday morning north of St. Joseph, Missouri.  Missouri Highway Patrol reported that a 2007 Ford Edge driven by Josh Zeplin left the road, hit an embankment and overturned along southbound I-29 near Route T.  The driver, Josh Zeplin, was airlifted to a St. Joseph hospital for treatment.  His wife, Jennifer Zeplin, was pronounced dead at the scene.  Kansas City Police Chief reported that the preliminary investigation indicates that Officer Zeplin may have fallen asleep at the wheel. 

Driving while sleepy, drowsy driving and other such terms are becoming more commonplace as more accidents occur because the driver falls asleep at the wheel.  Driving while sleepy is often as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.  Take a look at our library article "Sleep Deprived Drivers Endanger Kansas City Motorists", to learn more about this subject.

At Roswold Law Group, Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we see the impact of drowsy driving and encourage motorists to avoid driving while sleepy at all costs.   If you know you are going to be making a long drive or a night time drive here are some helpful tips:

1. Start well-rested - be sure to have several nights in a row of 7-9 hours of good sleep
2. Know the warning signs - constant yawning, inability to remember the last few moments, inability to keep your eyes focused are all warning signs to pull over
3. Arrive by midnight - most accidents that occur because of falling asleep at the wheel happen between midnight and sunrise
4. Take breaks - getting out to stretch, walking around and even stopping for a 20 minute nap are all helpful in keeping drivers alert

Let's keep our Kansas City roadways safe!

If you or someone you love has suffered serious injury in a car accident in Kansas or Missouri, contact the experienced Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys of Roswold Law Group.  With over 15 years of experience in Auto Accident and Injury cases we can help you determine the best way to handle your claim.  Call today for a free consultation.