Police ID semi

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A traffic camera image of the semi-truck involved in a fatal collision on I-435 in Overland Park last week. Photo courtesy Overland Park Police.

Overland Park Police say they have identified the semi-truck and driver involved in a deadly collision on Interstate 435 last week.

In a news release Saturday, police said the driver and the trucking company are “fully cooperating” with the investigation, which remains ongoing.

Overland Park police, firefighters and Johnson County Med-Act paramedics were called to a reported injury crash in the eastbound lanes of I-435 at Metcalf Avenue at 1 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 9.

Officers arrived to report a van was stopped in one of the center lanes, a tractor-trailer was stopped on the shoulder and an SUV was stopped almost one-quarter of a mile east on the left shoulder.

Soon after arriving on scene, investigators also discovered a man lying on the westbound side of the highway.

Officers administered CPR to the man, but he was declared dead at the scene at around 1:22 a.m.

That man was later identified as George Abasta, 50, of Olathe.

Investigators say they believe Abasta was a driver involved in the original crash on the eastbound side of I-435 and that he was trying to cross over the highway when he was struck by the passing semi-truck.

The truck that struck Abasta did not stop.

Another driver involved in the original crash was hospitalized with minor injuries.

An online fundraiser at GoFundMe.com is seeking donations to help Abasta’s family following his death.

“George was the bread winner of the family,” the fundraiser’s summary says. “Let’s come together as a family and help out the family … any little bit can help for funeral arrangements so his wife can lay him to rest.”

The fundraiser says Abasta, known as “Cholo” to family and friends, “would take the shirt off his back for any stranger.”

“He had a huge heart and will be greatly missed,” the fundraiser’s summary says.

Hi! I'm Kyle Palmer and I'm the editor of the Shawnee Mission Post and Blue Valley Post.

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Prior to joining the Post in 2020, I served as News Director for KCUR. I got my start in journalism at the University of Missouri, where I worked for KBIA, mid-Missouri's NPR affiliate. After college, I spent 10 years as a teacher and went on to get a master's degree in education policy from Stanford University.