An Emporia teenager suffered suspected serious injuries following a fiery crash east of Emporia Tuesday morning.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash log, 17-year-old Emily Jo-Anna Goza was traveling southbound on Interstate 35 in a 2002 Ford Explorer near the Road R-1 junction when she lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons. The Explorer then struck a guardrail causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and roll down an embankment before coming to a rest.
According to Emporia Fire Captain Willie Ward, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when emergency personnel arrived on scene. It is unclear if Goza was inside of the vehicle when it caught fire.
Goza was transported by ambulance to Newman Regional Health with suspected serious injuries and later airlifted to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Goza was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.
10:30 am Tuesday: One person suffers suspected serious injuries following fiery crash east of Emporia
A female driver suffered apparently serious injuries after a fiery crash east of Emporia on Tuesday morning.
Lyon County deputies, Kansas Highway Patrol troopers and Emporia Fire/EMS were dispatched to Interstate 35 between the Neosho River bridge and the Road R-1 junction around 8 am. Emporia Fire Capt. Willie Ward says a car went off the highway and caught fire. It was fully engulfed in flames when rescue crews arrived.
Emergency crews were able to stabilize her in transport to Newman Regional Health. The female was later airlifted to Wesley Medical Center.
Her name and age have not yet been released. At this time, it’s unclear if she was in the car when it caught fire, and it’s also unclear exactly what led to the crash.
The Kansas Highway Patrol and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation.
