Eight people died and dozens more were injured in what appears to be one of the deadliest accidents in Kansas in recent years.
At least 71 vehicles were involved in the dust-storm collisions on I-70 between Goodland and Colby in western Kansas, Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Tod Hileman said on social media.
“During the High winds that were producing a lot of blowing dust over the interstate, that was one of the areas that was affected the worst, once troopers got on scene they realized how major of an event this was,” Hileman said in a post. “Sadly eight people have lost their lives.”
The Kansas Highway Patrol has set up a special line for anyone involved in the crash or family or loved ones of people involved in the crash to call at 785-827-4437.
The accident was reported at 3:22 p.m. Friday at milepost 28 in Sherman County. Officials were still removing those who died from their vehicles on Saturday, Goodland Fire Chief Brian James said on Facebook.
“I must say yesterday was the toughest and most emotional draining experience in my 22 years of being in the fire service,” he wrote. “I’m sorry for the lives lost in this incident, but I’m grateful for the ones we could save.”
He said there were over 30 patients.
Photos he shared showed some vehicles crushed. Multiple semis were involved in the accident.
‘We are the lucky ones’: Couple walks away from Kansas crash that killed eight, injured dozens
The highest wind in Goodland was a 56 mph gust at 3:25 p.m., according to Kansas Mesonet. Wichita had gusts reach around that as well, and saw low visibility on the highways at that time.
Hileman posted a video on social media at 3:51 p.m. Friday that showed the dashcam of another trooper going to another accident about 30 miles south of the one on I-70. The white line on the road was barely visible because of the blowing dust.
I-70, which runs west to east, would have had the dirt and wind blowing almost directly across the highway.
No details were available Saturday afternoon about how the accidents happened or which lanes were involved.
