Five people were sent to hospitals following an extensive crash zone that developed outside Admire on Wednesday.
Lyon County deputies, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers, Emporia Fire/EMS, Allen-Admire Fire, Miller Fire and Reading Benefit Fire all responded to the 1300 block of US Highway 56 around 3:15 pm following reports of an injury crash involving several vehicles. Deputy Collin Brozek says emergency responders determined 12 vehicles, including two vehicles in flames and a USD 251 North Lyon County school bus, were part of the incident. The number is up from the original report of 11.
Deputies also say there were two separate crash scenes on US-56 from Road P west towards the US-56 junction with Road 340, a distance of just over 0.25 miles. The crashes happened with an active controlled burn taking place just south of the highway. Smoke covered the highway and caused poor visibility. That fire and the fires involving the two vehicles were put out quickly, as was another brush fire that developed nearly two hours after the crash.
A juvenile was taken by ambulance to Stormont-Vail with suspected serious injuries, while 3 juveniles were taken by ambulance to Newman Regional Health with minor injuries, according to Brozek. The school bus had seven people on board, six students and a driver. Undersheriff John Koelsch says one person was taken by private vehicle to Newman Regional. Other details are pending. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is leading the overall investigation. The Kansas Highway Patrol’s Critical Highway Accident Response, or CHART, Team, is helping the investigation.
US-56 was closed from Kansas Highway 99 outside Admire to Road L outside Allen. It took over 7 hours to fully reopen the highway.
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5:30 pm Wednesday: Five individuals taken to hospital, four by ambulance one by private vehicle, following 11 vehicle injury accident in northern Lyon County Wednesday
At least five individuals have been transported from the scene of a multi-vehicle injury accident in North Lyon County Wednesday afternoon.
According to emergency officials at the scene of the accident on US Highway 56 west of Road P and northwest of Admire, 11 vehicles, including a USD 251 North Lyon County school bus, which had six passengers and a driver on board, were involved in the accident. Thus far, five individuals have been taken to the hospital, including one of the bus passengers by private vehicle.
Three individuals from separate vehicles were all taken to Newman Regional Health by ambulance, while another went to Stormont Vail in Topeka, also by ambulance. The cause of the accident, which was reported around 3:15 pm Wednesday, is currently under investigation by the Kansas Highway Patrol Critical Highway Accident Response Team(CHART).
In addition to the accident, there was an active grass fire on the south side of 56 near P at the time of the incident; however, officials have not commented on whether or not smoke from the fire played a role in the accident.
Additional updates on the accident will come through the Kansas Highway Patrol. KVOE News will have additional information as it is released on KVOE and KVOE.com.
4:30 pm Wednesday: UPDATE: 11 vehicles, one school bus, reportedly involved in wreck on US-56 between Allen and Admire
Details are beginning to emerge following a multi-vehicle injury accident in northern Lyon County Wednesday afternoon.
According to Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell, the accident which prompted a response from Emporia Fire/EMS and firefighters from Allen-Admire, Miller and Reading, occurred just west of Road P and northwest of Admire around 3:15 pm. Fell also tells KVOE News the accident reportedly involves 11 vehicles, including one school bus.
Further details, including potential injuries, the number of individuals involved, and a full crash narrative, are currently pending. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more details as they develop.
3:51 pm: US Highway 56 is blocked from Allen to near Admire following a multi-vehicle wreck today.
Authorities have closed off part of US Highway 56 in north Lyon County after at least one injury crash Wednesday.
Lyon County deputies, Emporia Fire/EMS and firefighters from Allen-Admire, Miller and Reading all began responding to a multi-vehicle crash near Road P around 3:15 pm. Crash details are pending.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
