A Topeka man was hurt following the second of two injury accidents on US Highway 56 in less than three hours Thursday.
According to Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Williams, 80-year-old Ralph Frey of Topeka was traveling eastbound in the 1700 block of US-56, roughly three miles northeast of Allen, in a 2017 Ram Promaster City when Frey fell asleep at the wheel shortly before 2:50 pm. His vehicle would enter the south ditch and continue until he struck a concrete culvert causing the vehicle to overturn onto the passenger side door in a creek.
Frey was extricated from the vehicle by Allen-Admire First Responders and Emporia/Lyon County EMS. He was taken by ambulance to Newman Regional Health with what are being called suspected minor injuries.
Frey was wearing his seatbelt.
3:41 pm Thursday: Emergency responders called to second injury accident on US Highway 56 Thursday afternoon
For the second time in the span of fewer than three hours, emergency crews were called to a section of US Highway 56 following a reported injury accident Thursday afternoon.
Allen Admire and Lyon County EMS were called to the 1700 block of US 56, roughly 3 miles northeast of Admire, just before 3:10 pm for a single-vehicle injury accident. Initial reports indicate that a van left the roadway for unknown reasons and entered the ditch on the south side of the highway.
At least one occupant, a male, was inside the vehicle at the time of the accident and had reported complaints of head and leg pain. Further details are currently pending.
