Detours have been removed from the site of a two-vehicle accident that occurred north-northeast of Emporia Thursday.
According to Lyon County Deputy Benjamin Folks, the accident on US Highway 56 near Road S5, occurred after a semi driven by 56-year-old Michael Martin of Oklahoma rear-ended a John Deere tractor driven by 75-year-old Leroy Bolline of Allen. According to Deputy Folks, sunlight was the contributing factor that led to the accident as Martin was attempting to pass the tractor which was preparing to turn onto Road S5.
Boline suffered a minor injury in the accident but both he and Martin declined medical transport. One individual, a woman, was taken from the scene to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for injuries not sustained in the accident according to Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch.
Traffic flow in the area resumed as normal around 3 pm after having detours in place around the crash site for much of the late morning and early afternoon hours.
2 pm Thursday: UPDATE: One hospitalized, detours still in place following semi and tractor crash north-northeast of Emporia Thursday
One person was taken from the scene of an accident in northeast Lyon County that has redirected traffic in the area for the time being.
According to Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch, traffic is still being detoured around the scene of the crash on US Highway 56 near Road S-5. Full details, including a crash narrative, are still pending, however, early indications are a semi and tractor collided.
Koelsch says at least one person was taken by ambulance to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka with “non-emergent” injuries. Koelsch says the roadway has been cleared, however, the Kansas Department of Transportation has to excavate dirt along the roadway before traffic can be reopened in the area.
Eastbound personal vehicle traffic is being detoured at Kansas Highway 99 south to Road 330, east on gravel to Road U and then north to the highway. Westbound personal vehicles will go south on U to Road 330, west to K-99 and north to the highway. Eastbound semis and heavy vehicles will need to go from US-56 south on K-99 to Kansas Highway 170, while westbound traffic will need to get on or stay on the Kansas Turnpike and come south to Emporia. No traffic is being allowed westbound from the Turnpike until further notice.
10:30 am Thursday: Two sets of detours in place after injury crash reported at US-56, Road S-5 involving semi and tractor
US Highway 56 is blocked in northeast Lyon County after a reported injury crash Thursday morning.
Early indications are a semi and tractor collided on US-56 near Road S-5, about two miles east of Admire and nearly 20 miles north-northeast of Emporia. Other details are currently pending.
Traffic is being detoured around the crash site and may be for some time as cleanup continues, and two sets of detours are in place. Eastbound personal vehicle traffic is being detoured at Kansas Highway 99 south to Road 330, east on gravel to Road U and then north to the highway. Westbound personal vehicles will go south on U to Road 330, west to K-99 and north to the highway. Eastbound semis and heavy vehicles will need to go from US-56 south on K-99 to Kansas Highway 170, while westbound traffic will need to get on or stay on the Kansas Turnpike and come south to Emporia. No traffic is being allowed westbound from the Turnpike until further notice.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
