Lyon County deputies now say four people needed medical care after a pickup truck and car collided on Interstate 35 east of Emporia early Saturday.
Deputy Brandon Early says the pickup, driven by 18-year-old Axl Lucas of Lebo, and the car, driven by 43-year-old Jason Kovac of Prairie Village, were both northbound on the Interstate and approaching the Kansas Highway 130 junction when the truck rear-ended the car for currently unlisted reasons shortly before 3:30 am.
Both drivers went to Newman Regional Health for suspected minor injuries, Kovac by ambulance and Lucas by private vehicle. One juvenile went by ambulance to Newman Regional Health for suspected serious injuries. Another juvenile was airlifted by LifeSave to KU Medical Center in Kansas City for suspected serious injuries.
All involved were wearing seatbelts when the crash happened.
Westbound traffic was closed for nearly three hours after the wreck, while eastbound traffic was constricted to one lane for nearly four hours afterward.
The crash is under investigation.
7 am Saturday: Three people hospitalized after I-35 crash outside Neosho Rapids
Three people have been transported to hospitals for treatment after a crash on Interstate 35 near Neosho Rapids early Saturday.
The wreck happened just west of the Kansas Highway 130 exit shortly before 3:30 am. Lyon County Undersheriff John Koelsch tells KVOE News pickup and car were both northbound on the Interstate and the truck rear-ended the car.
LifeSave airlifted one person in the car to KU Med in Kansas City, Kansas. Two people in the truck were taken to Newman Regional Health. Names have not been released.
Westbound traffic was completely blocked for close to three hours during the initial emergency response effort. Traffic in that direction resumed normal speed around 6:15 am. Eastbound traffic has been pushed to the shoulder to get around the wreck site and should be returning to normal soon.
4:50 am Saturday: Wreck with reported injuries affecting I-35 traffic near Neosho Rapids
Westbound traffic on Interstate 35 near Neosho Rapids has been blocked and eastbound traffic has been shifted to the shoulder after a crash with reported injuries Saturday morning.
Lyon County deputies and Emporia Fire initially responded to the crash, which happened less than a mile west of the Kansas Highway 130 junction shortly before 3:30 am. A pickup and a second vehicle were in the median, with the second vehicle sustaining major damage.
A LifeSave helicopter was also dispatched to the scene.
So far, there is no confirmation of patient numbers or any injuries. There is also no word yet on when traffic will return to normal.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for updates.
