The Kansas Highway Patrol says most of the people hospitalized as part of two Christmas Eve wrecks on the Kansas Turnpike northeast of Emporia suffered potentially serious injuries.
The Highway Patrol says the first wreck at mile marker 155 in western Osage County involved a semi driven by 36-year-old Cameron Cruz of Yukon, Oklahoma, and another semi driven by 57-year-old Ronald Jackson of Fort Worth, Texas. The crash log says both semis were northbound, but the Cruz semi caught fire after rear-ending Jackson’s semi. While the Cruz semi was destroyed, Jackson’s semi rolled over on the passenger side.
Jackson was not hurt, but Cruz was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Topeka with suspected minor injuries.
The second crash started with a semi driven by 67-year-old Cedric Zumwalt of Racine, Wisconsin, and a minivan driven by 57-year-old Stephen Nelson of Arkansas City. Both vehicles were parked because the prior wreck blocked both lanes of northbound traffic. A car driven by 27-year-old Kristal Lecroy of Strong City was going too fast for the foggy conditions and hit Nelson’s minivan, which in turn hit Zumwalt’s semi.
Lecroy was taken to Saint Francis with suspected serious injuries. Nelson and two passengers, 53-year-old Richard Crawford and 63-year-old Gregoire Sanders, both of Kansas City, Missouri were also taken to St. Francis with suspected serious injuries. Zumwalt was not listed as hurt.
2:45 pm Wednesday: Six people hospitalized, northbound Turnpike reopens after crash in Osage County
Six people were hospitalized after a pair of crashes in the same area of the Kansas Turnpike northeast of Emporia early Wednesday.
The situation at mile marker 155 northbound, nearly 30 miles northeast of Emporia, began unfolding around 6:45 am, according to Kansas Highway Patrol Capt. Dave Hundley, as a northbound semi trailer overturned and was hit by a second semi. The second semi, which was carrying pallets, caught fire and was eventually destroyed.
The second wreck happened soon afterward. Hundley says a semi was stopped for the first crash, as did a van immediately behind it. Another vehicle hit the van, which then collided with the semi.
Initial reports had as many as 16 vehicles involved. Hundley says there were several vehicles that went into a nearby ditch to avoid the wrecks, but the five listed vehicles were the only ones that made contact. The number of hospitalized patients remains as originally reported. Names have not been released.
Troopers have reopened the Turnpike to northbound travel at mile marker 147 after it was closed for roughly four hours.
Both wrecks happened in thick fog, and authorities believe it played at least a contributing role.
9 am Wednesday
The emergency response and early investigative work are both ongoing after an injury wreck and semi fire on the Kansas Turnpike northeast of Emporia.
Originally, a semi fire was reported by KVOE listeners at Turnpike mile marker 155, or in western Osage County nearly 30 miles northeast of Emporia. An injury crash was reported afterward, and Osage County authorities now indicate at least 16 vehicles were involved.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority also tells KVOE News as many as six patients are being hospitalized as a result of the crash.
At least one semi caught fire as a result. Osage County officials say it is contained but not out as of 8 am.
Fog is currently being considered as a contributing factor, if not a primary factor.
Northbound Turnpike traffic has been diverted at the Admire exit, mile marker 147, since around 7 am. Drivers need to use US Highway 56 through northern Osage County if they need to head to Topeka or other locations in northeast Kansas.
Osage County law enforcement and emergency response are helping to lead the cleanup and investigation work, while Emporia Fire is assisting with the emergency response and Lyon County deputies have been helping with traffic control.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
6:55-8 am Wednesday
A semi fire has been reported on the Kansas Highway near the Lyon-Osage-Wabaunsee county lines.
The incident was reported at Kansas Turnpike mile marker 155 northbound shortly before 6:50 am. Kansas Highway Patrol and Lyon County deputies are responding, with northbound traffic being diverted at the Admire exit, or mile marker 147, as the emergency response continues and the investigation begins later.
Kandrive.gov says the highway is closed due to a crash, and Emporia Fire has been dispatched to the scene as a mutual aid call for a 15-vehicle wreck. Details beyond that are currently pending.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
