One person was hospitalized following a three-vehicle crash in Coffey County Thursday evening.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash log, the accident unfolded at Interstate 35 mile marker 155.2 southbound, just over 10 miles north of New Strawn, shortly before 6:20 pm. KHP says the incident began when a semi, driven by 48-year-old Khalid Abakar of East Moline, Illinois, was traveling southbound and preparing to move into the left lane to make a U-turn.
At the same time, a 2024 Kia Forte, driven by Amber Smead of Grandview, Missouri, entered the median in an attempt to avoid a collision with a 2023 Ford F550 driven by 56-year-old Isaac Vazquez of Brownsville, Texas. The Vazquez truck then struck the Abakar semi on the passenger side, causing the semi to come to rest, blocking both southbound lanes of traffic.
Smead and Abakar suffered no apparent injuries in the collision, nor did Vazquez or a passenger, 44-year-old Albaro Zamorano of Brownsville, Texas. However, a third passenger in the Vazquez Ford, 58-year-old Juan Salinas of Brownsville, was taken to Coffey County Hospital with suspected minor injuries.
All involved were wearing seatbelts at the time of the incident.
