The Kansas Turnpike Authority says the Kansas City man who died in a crash east of Emporia was being sought by Wichita Police on suspicion of aggravated assault.
Jimmy Lee Coleman, 36, was killed Sunday when his car went off Interstate 35 and cartwheeled over Road R-1 before landing upside down. The Turnpike Authority says Wichita Police officers had put out an attempt to locate Coleman after an alleged domestic violence incident. A Highway Patrol trooper spotted Coleman’s car at the Emporia exit, but decided not to give chase after Coleman went onto Interstate 35.
Coleman was clocked at 135 mph shortly before he crashed. Authorities say he was driving recklessly, weaving in and out of traffic. The Turnpike Authority believes Coleman planned to use R-1 as a turnaround point before he wrecked.
9:30 pm Sunday: Missouri man killed in Sunday’s high-speed crash near Emporia
The Kansas Highway Patrol says a man died after a crash near Emporia on Sunday.
Troopers say 36-year-old Jimmy Lee Coleman of Kansas City, Missouri, was northbound on Interstate 35 at a high rate of speed and left the highway at mile marker 135 near the junction with Lyon County Road R-1 shortly before 1:30 pm. Coleman lost control of his car, which went through a ditch, jumped about 20 feet in the air and landed upright in a ditch. The car then hit a second ditch, cartwheeled and landed upside down.
Coleman was wearing his seatbelt at the time and was the only person in the vehicle, according to the Highway Patrol crash log. Authorities have not confirmed his speed at the time of the crash or said why he was traveling as fast as he was.
The Highway Patrol brought its Critical Highway Accident Response Team, often used in fatal semi accidents, to investigate this crash. The northbound I-35 offramp and R-1 between the I-35 north ramps and Road 170 were closed for at least six hours after the wreck.
2:30 pm Sunday: Wreck near Emporia kills one person Sunday
One person has died after a crash east of Emporia.
The wreck happened around 1:30 pm Sunday at Interstate 35 and Road R-1, about three miles east of Emporia’s eastern city limits. Early indications are the driver was northbound and tried unsuccessfully to use the northbound offramp from I-35 to R-1. The car apparently rolled into a ditch on the east side of R-1.
The driver’s name has not been released.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is leading the investigation and is using its Critical Highway Accident Response Team in this case. Lyon County deputies and Lebo Police have also helped the investigation.
Highway traffic continues, but the northbound I-35 ramp connecting to R-1 is shut down, as is R-1 between the north ramps and Road 170. There is currently no word on when the affected roads will reopen.
We’ll keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
