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A bright light in the Lanear family of Grain Valley was extinguished Wednesday, May 1st when 20-year old Christian Lanear died in a vehicle accident on Jefferson Road at Pamela Blvd. While the family is dealing with the devastation of losing Christian, they are also working to make the road where he died safer for drivers. Christian Lanear is being remembered by his family and friends as "larger than life” and a “bright light” who impacted everyone he met. “He was larger than life. (Christian) was bright and friendly and welcoming and anyone he was around he made feel happy, seen, and heard. And it did it so naturally, making people feel like they belong and It was ok to be themselves,” Christian’s mother Jessica Briggs said. Christian, a 2023 Grain Valley High School graduate, was a standout student and athlete. Briggs recalled the many activities he participated in at GVHS, including football, track and field, speech and debate, co-hosting the school’s Eagle Media broadcasts, and show choir. Christian was also selected prom king by his classmates. Briggs said Christian was attending Metropolitan Community College, studying mass communiciations, and was working for one of his best friends as a glazier at Elliott Glass. Christian was leaving work the afternoon of May 1st when the fatal accident occurred. Missouri Highway Patrol reported Lanear overcorrected after traveling off the roadway on Jefferson Road at Pamela Blvd. around 4:12pm Wednesday, May 1st. Lanear’s Chrysler was struck by an oncoming 2019 Ford on the passenger side. Lanear was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford was transported to an area hospital with moderate injuries. Briggs said Christian was a part of a Life 360 circle with several friends who received a notification from the app that he had experienced a hard break. Briggs began receiving messages and calls from friends asking about Christian and Briggs headed to the scene of the crash where she learned the unimaginable for any parent. Christian’s brother, William Lanear, quickly began to reach out to officials and the community to make the roadway safer for drivers. Jefferson Street is maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT). Lanear said he reached out to Grain Valley Mayor Mike Todd, who explained that the city has communicated with MODOT about concerns regarding Jefferson Street, but that voices from the community would be helpful to initiate changes. William Lanear said he also contacted MODOT, who suggested he complete an online report to express concerns about the road. “It’s gotten really frustrating,” William Lanear said of the response he received from MODOT. “There have been multiple accidents on this roadway, and there needs to be a change.” “There have been multiple accidents in that area. The road is not wide enough. Christian was leaving work from over there, and the other individual was leaving work. There are many folks who travel that road every day. There needs to be improvements to make that area safer, and that’s really what we want to see changed,” Briggs said. William Lanear said he has been told by various elected officials that a meeting is planned for June to look into Jefferson and other roads in Grain Valley maintained by MODOT that are of concern. Grain Valley News reached out to Alderman Ryan Skinner, who said Todd is working with State Representative Jeff Coleman to plan an open house to get citizen feedback. Skinner plans to advocate for a committee to help investigate concerns and determine options to address issues. William Lanear began an online petition via Change.org after his conversation with Mayor Todd to call for MODOT to address safety concerns on Jefferson Street. The petition had resulted in more than 6500 signatures as of the weekend, William Lanear said. Ashlyn Frost, Christian’s girlfriend, said that the response to the petition is just another way of seeing how much of an impact Christian had on people. “I went to school in New York, and people who knew Christian from New York were also passing around the petition. It is one of the things that makes me feel better about all of this is seeing how he impacted so many people.” “There needs to be change and there needs to be improvement on that road. Christian was such a huge loss for our family and the community. We have received such an outpouring of love from coaches to teachers and his peers. Everyone who knew Christian knows what a loss it is to have lost such a bright light and someone who positively impacted so many people,” Briggs said. The family has scheduled a candlelight vigil at Grain Valley High School's Moody Murry Stadium on Sunday, May 5th at 8:00pm. A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, May 7th from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main Street, Grain Valley, and a visitation is planned for Wednesday, May 8th from 4:30pm - 7:00pm at Royer Funeral Home, 100 Royer Lane, Grain Valley. Petition to add guard rails/shoulders to Jefferson Street: Petition · Adding guard rails/Shoulders to Jefferson - Grain Valley, United States · Change.org Link to report a road concern to MODOT: Report a Road Concern | Missouri Department of Transportation (modot.org) GoFundMe campaign to support the Lanear family: Fundraiser by Brandon Lanear : Long Live Chris❤️ (gofundme.com) Photos courtesy Lanear family
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