Columbia man dies in Lafayette County crash
BATES CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia man died in a Thursday afternoon crash on Interstate 70 in Lafayette County near mile marker 31, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.
Michael Kniest was pronounced dead at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, according to the report. He was 45.
The crash occurred as Kniest was heading westbound with his 2000 Harley Davidson. Kniest changed lanes and hit the “towed unit” of a 2023 Freightliner Cascadia, according to the crash report. Kniest was ejected from his motorcycle.
The report states Kniest was not wearing a helmet. The motorcycle had moderate damage, while the semi had minor damage.