Mechanical failure apparently led to a crash that shut down southbound traffic on the Kansas Turnpike near the Matfield Green service exit Saturday morning.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority says 43-year-old Daniel Jacobs of Scranton was driving a pickup southbound when his truck had an unspecified malfunction around 7:45 am about three miles northeast of the Matfield Green exit. The truck, which was towing a trailer, hit the center median wall and then continued for almost 200 yards along the barrier before stopping.
Jacobs was not hurt, but 16-year-old McKenzie Jacobs, also of Scranton, was listed with a possible injury. The Turnpike Authority has not said whether the younger Jacobs was hospitalized.
11:45 am Saturday
Traffic is back to normal on a stretch of Kansas Turnpike southwest of Emporia.
The Turnpike Authority had to close both southbound lanes at mile marker 100, three miles north of the Matfield Green exit, around 8 am Saturday after a crash. The early indications are a pickup towing a trailer crashed, blocking both southbound lanes.
Initially, no injuries were reported. Turnpike Dispatch now says there were minor injuries, but the number of patients and their treatment status is pending at this time.
It took over two hours to clear the highway enough to allow traffic through at normal speeds.
8:35 am Saturday: Wreck shuts off Turnpike southbound traffic near Matfield Green service exit
The Kansas Turnpike Authority has closed down southbound traffic on the highway north of the Matfield Green service exit after a crash Saturday morning.
The wreck happened around 8 am at mile marker 100 southbound, so three miles north of the Matfield Green exit and 27 miles southwest of the Emporia gate. There is currently no word on any injuries, but the early indications are a pickup towing a trailer crashed, blocking both southbound lanes.
Drivers are urged to use caution. We’ll keep you updated on KVOE and KVOE.com.
