An investigation is underway and formal charges are pending after Sunday night’s crash on the Kansas Turnpike near the Emporia service exit.
The crash officially happened just after 11:10 pm, although Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Dave Hundley says a white SUV allegedly involved had been reported as speeding near the Emporia tollgate shortly before the wreck and local authorities were involved in a chase earlier in the day before breaking off that pursuit. Hundley also says the SUV driver, 35-year-old Phillip Scott Lieurance, apparently hit the second vehicle with his SUV several times before the crash officially disabled both vehicles.
Lieurance was taken to Newman Regional Health by a Lyon County deputy and was then booked into the Lyon County Jail. Hundley says this is being investigated as an intentional act, so formal charges of aggravated battery and DUI are pending — and an online crash log report is unlikely. Emporia Fire then took five people from the second vehicle to Newman Regional Health. All the people in the second vehicle have since been released.
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates as this story develops.
7:35 am Monday: Six people hospitalized after wreck on Kansas Turnpike near Emporia service exit
Six people were taken to Newman Regional Health for observation and treatment following a wreck on the Kansas Turnpike near Emporia late Sunday night, although at least five have already been released.
Two vehicles collided just outside the Turnpike’s service exit, five miles northeast of the Emporia tollgate, shortly before 11:15 pm. Emporia Fire says five people, all family members, were taken to Newman Regional Health by ambulances, while the driver of the second vehicle involved was taken to the hospital by a Lyon County deputy. The family members have since been released.
Other crash details have not been announced.
