Jul 26, 2024

Prison for Kansas man in fatal wrong-way interstate crash

Posted Jul 26, 2024 1:00 AM
Ryan photo Johnson Co.
Ryan photo Johnson Co.

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a deadly DUI crash.

Last week, Judge Thomas K. Ryan sentenced 33-year-old Matthew J. Ryan to almost 10-years in  prison, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office. In May, a jury found him guilty of reckless 2nd degree murder in the wrong-way crash death of  Karl Wurtenberger, 42, of Independence, Missouri.

In December of 2022, a vehicle driven by Ryan was westbound on Interstate 435 in the eastbound lanes and struck a vehicle. After impact, Ryan's vehicle continued westbound and collided with another vehicle, driven by Wurtenberge, head-on near Quivira Road. Wurtenberger was pronounced dead at the scene.