Local authorities rescued three people from a car that went into floodwaters early Saturday morning.
Lyon County deputies were called out to the intersection of Road 160 and H around 4:30 am. Undersheriff John Koelsch says a car driver went past barricades and into floodwaters. The Emporia Fire Department’s water rescue team took three people to dry land — Wichita residents Noah Kanziyere, 24, and Jay Howe, 18, as well as a 17-year-old pregnant teenager who is not currently being named. None of the three needed a hospital trip.
Koelsch says deputies also arrested 18-year-old Robert Hise of Emporia, who ignored law enforcement directions to stay away — and instead tried to use a bicycle to go through the floodwaters and get to the car.
The question now is whether there were two other people in the car when the incident began, but authorities say there is no reason to think that is the case. The rescued people say two others left the scene around 2 am after the vehicle ran out of gas, but Koelsch says they could not tell investigators who else was in the car with them or give descriptions. A drone from the Reading Benefit Fire Department was used to help with that part of the investigation. Koelsch says investigators thoroughly searched the area and have no reason to think anybody might be missing. Deputies are not actively searching for anybody at this time.
If you have information about this incident, call the Sheriff’s Office at 342-5545 or Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 342-2273. Folks contacting Crime Stoppers can also go online to www.p3tips.com or use the P3Tips mobile app.
Separately, the Kansas Turnpike Authority is investigating after a reported road washout led to another situation in far northeast Lyon County. Deputies reported to Road 390 and Y after the washout report, eventually finding a small mudslide on Road 400 near a bridge spanning the Turnpike.
Turnpike Authority Communications Director Jeri Biehler says this was one of several bridges raised by construction crews last year. The contractor added dirt to the slopes, but some slid in this case.
The bridge is still in use but will be monitored through the weekend. Biehler says there is no structural concern for the bridge. Repair plans may develop in the next week.
Photo from Lyon County Sheriff’s Office
{gallery}Mudslide 051019{/gallery}
Minor to moderate flooding continues along the Cottonwood from Emporia to Plymouth and on the Neosho east of Emporia.
The Cottonwood River at Emporia is at 25.02 feet, above flood stage of 20 and trending down from a crest of 26.17 feet Thursday evening. The river may go back into its banks Monday and it may not totally clear Highway 99 until Sunday. A flood warning now continues until Monday night.
At Neosho Rapids, the river is at 25.61 feet, above flood stage of 22 but below crest of 27.11 feet Thursday. The river may go below flood stage Monday. The flood warning now continues until Monday night.
All flood warnings are over in Chase County. The National Weather Service eliminated warnings for Chase County as a whole as well as river-based warnings at Cottonwood Falls and Plymouth on Saturday. However, the countywide warning for Greenwood County was extended and now should end at 2:30 pm Monday.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com as coverage of the current flood continues.
