A Toyota Prius kills a Missouri man in a downtown Kansas City.
The man was underneath the Prius in an attempt to steal a part from it.
Authorities responded to the parking lot near 7th and Baltimore Avenue and say the part he was trying to steal was a catalytic converter.
The owner of the car did not wish to be identified, but says he was at work when he learned his car had crushed someone.
Catalytic converters are designed to reduce pollutants and toxic gases from the exhaust, and in a Prius they contain pricey metals such as rhodium, palladium and platinum.
While catalytic converters are often stolen to pawn for a quick buck, it’s not always a quick fix for A replacement converter can cost anywhere from $300 to the upwards of $2,500.
The driver of another vehicle tried to help free the man with a car jack, but the victim died at the scene.
