Jury finds Johnson County man guilty of second-degree murder in crash with motorcyclist
A Johnson County jury on Thursday found a 38-year-old man guilty of murder in a 2021 crash that killed a motorcyclist, the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office announced.
The jury found Ruben Rodriguez guilty of reckless second-degree murder in the fatal crash that killed 23-year-old Dade Smith of Overland Park on the morning of Nov. 18, 2021.
This was the second time that Rodriquez stood trial on the charge. In the first trial, in October 2023, the jury became deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared, according to court documents.
Sentencing was set for Oct. 4. Rodriguez, whose bond was increased to $750,000, was held in Johnson County jail.
Smith, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was found unresponsive by responding police officers. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Rodriguez was unhurt.
The crash occurred on West 167th Street near Lone Elm Road, near the FedEx facility in Olathe, where the two men worked.
According to his obituary, Smith had a son. A GoFundMe fundraising page organized after his death said Smith’s son was born in May, just months before his death.
Smith’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against FedEx in Johnson County District Court, accusing the company of negligence and negligent hiring, supervision and retention.
They claimed that the morning of the crash, Smith and Rodriguez got into a “dangerous altercation” at work, and the on-duty supervisor sent both men home. The argument continued in the parking lot. Rodriguez, who was driving an SUV, struck Smith as they were leaving, the lawsuit alleged.
The lawsuit was removed to U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas, where court documents showed a settlement had been reached last year.
After a judge declined a motion to conduct a wrongful death settlement hearing under seal, Smith’s family dismissed their claims, and the case was closed, court documents show.
