The Kansas Highway Patrol says an Arkansas woman was killed in Tuesday afternoon’s crash just outside Eureka.
The Highway Patrol crash log says 50-year-old Anita Lucy of Salem, Arkansas, was driving a car eastbound on US Highway 54 and leaving Eureka as the crash developed shortly before 2:45 pm. As she left town, there was an eastbound semi in the inside lane.
Lucy, who was in the outside lane, tried to pass the semi as the highway narrowed from four lanes to two. However, her car left the highway to the right and went onto the gravel shoulder before Lucy overcorrected. Her car slid eastbound before crossing the eastbound lane and going into oncoming traffic.
A westbound semi driven by 30-year-old John Thompson of Wichita went to the right as Thompson tried unsuccessfully to avoid contact. Instead, the semi hit Lucy’s car on the passenger side.
Lucy was pronounced dead. She was not wearing her seatbelt. Thompson was not hurt.
US-54 traffic was closed for over five hours after the crash.
6 pm Tuesday: Head-on car-semi crash kills one person near Eureka
A woman was killed in a head-on crash near Eureka on Tuesday.
Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Rick Wingate tells KVOE News a car and semi collided on US Highway 54 near the east Eureka city limit shortly after 2:30 pm. The car’s driver was trying to pass another vehicle but crossed the center line in front of an oncoming semi.
The car driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi driver refused medical treatment. The third vehicle suffered no damage from the other two vehicles.
The KHP Critical Highway Accident Response Team, or CHART, has been activated for the investigation. Names have not been released at this time pending family notifications. US-54 was blocked for over five hours between the east Eureka city limit and the south Kansas Highway 99 junction.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
5 pm Tuesday: Fatality crash closes US 54 near Eureka
At least one person is dead after a crash in Greenwood County on Tuesday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is leading an investigation after a semi and passenger car collided on US Highway 54 just east of Eureka. Trooper Rick Wingate says the Highway Patrol was notified of the confirmed fatality just before 4 pm.
The Highway Patrol’s crash accident investigation team has been activated for this wreck.
Crash details are pending and names have not been released.
US 54 is closed from Q Road to the south K-99 junction, and the highway may be closed for several hours.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
