An Admire man was killed in the early-Saturday traffic incident on Interstate 35 near Emporia’s Burlingame Road exit.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says a semi driven by 43-year-old Raul Romero-Ruiz of Mexico’s federal district was southbound when the incident happened around 6:20 am. Romero-Ruiz had moved from the outside lane to the inside lane, thus allowing an unlisted vehicle to merge onto I-35. However, 29-year-old Dylan Moellenberndt walked onto the highway from the left — it’s unclear whether from the center median, the northbound side of the highway or somewhere else — and walked into the inside lane.
Romero-Ruiz steered to the right but still hit Moellenberndt, who was pronounced dead shortly after the incident was reported.
Neither Romero-Ruiz nor a passenger, 53-year-old Ruben Romero-Ruiz of the Mexico federal district, were hurt. Both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the wreck.
Southbound I-35 traffic was closed for roughly five hours after the incident.
11:15 am Saturday: Southbound I-35 still closed between East US 50, Kansas Highway 99 exits after fatality traffic incident
Southbound traffic remains blocked on Interstate 35 between East US Highway 50 and Kansas Highway 99 after a fatality traffic incident early Saturday.
The incident, which happened just west of the Burlingame Road exit shortly before 6:30 am, involved a pedestrian and at least one semi. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after authorities and rescue teams arrived.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is leading the crash investigation, with the Critical Highway Accident Response Team playing a key role in determining what happened. The CHART team is typically dispatched for injury or fatality crashes involving commercial motor vehicles, and its investigations typically take several hours to complete.
There is no indication when southbound I-35 traffic will begin moving past the crash site, let alone return to normal flow. KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have updates through Saturday.
8:20 am Saturday: Pedestrian killed on Interstate 35 near Emporia’s Burlingame Road exit
One person is dead after a traffic incident near Emporia before sunrise Saturday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol has confirmed a pedestrian died after the incident on Interstate 35 just west of Burlingame Road shortly before 6:30 am. Emporia Fire says the pedestrian was hit by a semi.
Southbound traffic is currently blocked between mile markers 133 and 130, or the East US Highway 50 and Merchant Street exits. The Highway Patrol’s Critical Highway Accident Response Team has been activated and will help with the investigation — meaning southbound traffic may well be diverted at East US 50 for several hours Saturday. Traffic on both Burlingame Road and Kansas Highway 99 north of Emporia is unaffected.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates through the day.
6:35 am Saturday: Reported injury incident shutting down southbound Interstate 35 near Burlingame Road exit
Emporia Fire and Emporia Police are on the scene of a reported injury crash.
The incident is reported at Interstate 35 mile marker 131 southbound, or near the Burlingame Road exit. The medical response and incident investigation has closed down southbound traffic until further notice.
Other details are currently pending. KVOE and KVOE.com will keep you updated.
