Firefighter injured in crash while responding to call wins $1.8M jury award

Summary

• Jury awarded firefighter $1.8235 million for crash-related injuries
• Collision occurred while responding to emergency on I-670
• Defendant driver struck second fire truck after yielding to first
• Plaintiff suffered aggravated elbow injury requiring future surgery

A Jackson County jury has awarded more than $1.8 million to a  Kansas City fire captain injured in a 2020 collision with an oversized pickup truck while responding to an emergency call.

The late February jury award is nearly double plaintiff Christopher Hitchye’s final pretrial demand, said lead plaintiff’s attorney Reginald Stockman, and nearly nine times the final pretrial offer.

According to the lawsuit as well as Stockman, the crash occurred on Jan. 6, 2020, while the Kansas City Fire Department was responding to an emergency call on eastbound Interstate 670, with Capt. Hitchye riding in the passenger seat in the rear vehicle of a two-truck caravan.

Both trucks had their headlights, emergency lights, sirens, and airhorns activated. Pumper 9, the lead vehicle, exited westbound I-670 onto Wyoming Street, followed by Truck 6, carrying the captain.

At the intersection, a Ford F-550 operated by Jeremy J. Cramer, of Oak Grove, Missouri, yielded to the first fire truck but then suddenly pulled forward, striking the trailing fire truck.

Cramer was on duty at the time as an employee of Collins & Hermann Inc., a fencing contractor and the truck’s owner.

Hitchye, who had a prior right elbow surgery, braced for impact with his right hand, Stockman said, aggravating the old injury. The firefighter has since had a second elbow surgery and was advised of the eventual need for a total elbow replacement.

Defense lawyer Keaton Knott, of Franke Schultz & Mullen in Kansas City, noted that while punitive damages were sought, the jury did not award any. Further, he said, “there was additional insurance such that this was not a verdict in excess of limits.”

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$1.8235 million jury verdict for the plaintiff

Motor vehicle collision

Venue: Jackson County Circuit Court at Kansas City

Case Number/Date: 2416-CV30616 /Feb. 27, 2026

Judge: Circuit Judge Marty Seaton

Plaintiff’s expert: Dr. Akhill Chhatre, Baltimore (life care planning)

Defendant’s expert: Dr. Prem Parmar, KC Sports Medicine, Lenexa, Kansas

Injuries alleged: shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, hand

Injuries detail: Preexisting right elbow injury that was reinjured in the wreck, causing the need for a future elbow replacement

Insurer: Liberty Insurance Corp. ($1 million)

Special damages: $564,722 in future medical expenses

Last pretrial demand: $1 million

Last pretrial offer: $215,000

Caption: Christopher Hitchye v. Collins & Hermann, Inc., and Jeremy J. Cramer

Plaintiff’s attorneys: Reginald Stockman (lead) and Monica Tanzey; Stockman Law Firm, Kansas City

Defendant’s attorneys: John Franke and Keaton Knott of Franke Shultz & Mullen