Update:

Law enforcement and emergency personnel remain on the scene of a two vehicle  head- on collision which claimed the life of the driver of a pickup truck.

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges reported the fire at the scene of the accident has been extinguished, and a Kansas Highway Patrol accident reconstruction team is on the scene working to determine what occurred just prior to the accident.

Southbound traffic is being detoured at the K-82 exit into Wakefield west, while northbound traffic will be detoured around Milford Lake from the U.S. 77 – K-57 intersection on the northwest side of Junction City.

The semi-tractor trailer involved in the accident was carrying frozen hot dogs. Those will have to be cleaned up and removed from the scene.

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A head-on collision between a pickup truck and a semi-tractor trailer rig in the 2:30 to 3 a.m. time frame Thursday on U.S. Highway 77 in northern Geary County resulted in the death of the driver of the pickup. The driver of the semi received minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene. Both vehicles went into a ditch after the collision, but both lanes of 77 are closed at the accident scene due to emergency vehicles and accident reconstruction work.

That information was provided by Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director.

Berges said the scene of the accident is about one-half mile south of the U.S. 77 junction with K-82 Highway that goes into Wakefield. “So any traffic coming north out of Junction City heading north toward Wakefield will be detoured. Any traffic coming towards the Wakefield area on 77 will be detoured through Wakefield.” Law enforcement are handling the detour work, and KDOT will be bringing sign boards to assist with that process.

Berges anticipates U.S. 77 will be closed until approximately 9 or10 a.m. today. He noted anyone coming from the north from the Riley – Leonardville area will probably be diverted through Wakefield, probably over to Highway K-15.

On scene are the Kansas Highway Patrol, Geary County Sheriff’s Department, Geary County Rural Fire Department, Junction City Fire / EMS, and Fort Riley Fire Department personnel.

The names of the victims in this accident have not been released at this time.