UPDATE:
The Kansas Highway Patrol has released information on the accident that occurred on Friday on I-70.
The driver of a Kenworth Semi-tractor trailer rig was Sahal Abdullahi Yusuf. 49, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was listed with a possible injury. Yusuf complained of pain. A passenger, Abdullahi Mohamud Sahal, 22, Minneapolis, Minnesota was not injured. They were traveling in a semi that was hit from behind by a Freightliner semi driven by Lorrie Ann Stevens, 59, Lenexa, Kansas.
Stevens was not injured but a passenger, Timothy Wayne Stevens, 59, Lenexa, was taken to Geary Community Hospital with what was listed as a suspected serious injury. He was in the sleeper berth at the time of the accident.
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Interstate 70 between Grandview Plaza and the Chestnut Street exit off I-70 at Junction City has been reopened to traffic.
The interstate was closed at that location for several hours after one semi-tractor trailer rig hit the rear end of another semi-tractor trailer rig. Haz-mat and then eventually Fort Riley personnel all responded to the scene along with emergency management and law enforcement personnel.
Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said, “Fort Riley brought out their EOD and also their ammunition expert and they were able to offload using a trailer and loader to unload that wrecked semi that had the trailer damaged onto another trailer. “It was then escorted onto Fort Riley.
Fort Riley also issued a statement saying ammunition handlers / technicians from the post assisted Geary County Emergency Management in response to the vehicle crash. “A semi-trailer transporting military munitions between U.S. Army arsenals was involved and disabled.” Trained technicians from Fort Riley Logistics Readiness Center provided a replacement trailer to safely transfer the load which was transported and will be temporarily stored at the Fort Riley Ammunition Supply Point.
The Army said within three days, the civilian contracted trucking company is scheduled to pick up ammunition from Fort Riley ASP to complete their transport to the original destination.
During the closure of the interstate Berges confirmed there were two other accidents as traffic was diverted through Grandview Plaza and Junction City back to Interstate 70 farther west. He knew of no injuries in those accidents.
The heat made it difficult to work outside, said Berges. “It was hot. We checked, and at one point the heat index was over 103 out there. We had guys in special suits out there, kept everybody hydrated, tried to keep them in the shade and working as teams as much as possible.”
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Westbound I-70 from mile marker 298 to 299 near Junction City was closed earlier this morning due to semi-truck crashes, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
It is not known at this time how long the closure will take place. Motorists will follow the signed detour by lighted message boards. Traffic is being detoured through Grandview Plaza and through Junction City on Washington Street.
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Law enforcement and emergency management personnel responded to I-70 westbound between Grandview Plaza and the Chestnut Street exit at Junction City, mike marker 298 to 299 on Friday morning. Authorities confirm one semi-truck hit the rear end of another semi-truck.
One person sustained a minor injury and was transported to Geary Community Hospital. Following the accident all westbound traffic on the interstate was detoured through Grandview Plaza.
According to Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges one of the semi’s was carrying material that concerned authorities. “We’ve got the hazardous materials team through the State Fire Marshal’s out of Manhattan here to assist us. We’ve got EMS and Junction City Fire coming out as a standby while we take care of the problem.”
As more information becomes available we will update the story here at JC Post.