SALINA–Two people were injured in Monday afternoon’s 5 vehicle I-70 crash 15 miles west of Salina.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a large grass fire was burning north of the Interstate causing smoke to blow across the highway and there was zero visibility.  The smoke caused traffic to slow and the chain reaction 5-vehicle accident.

Brooke Elizabeth Prine, 29 Derby and Janet Leigh Gibbs, 54, Independence, Mo., were transported to Salina Regional Medical Center

The KHP reported all were wearing seat belts.

 

 

Update 5:36 pm both west and eastbound lanes opened for traffic according to KHP

Click the photos to enlarge

Update 5:23pm One eastbound lane was in the process of being opened for traffic.

Update 5:20pm: Kansas Highway Patrol reported a five vehicle crash due to the smoke from the fire. Two drivers were transported to Salina Regional Health Center.

SALINA –4:450 p.m.  Grass fires believed to have been sparked by a train put a blanket of smoke across Interstate 70 west of Salina.  The smoke shut down about a five mile stretch of the highway from mile post 235-240 in portions of Saline and Lincoln counties.

Several rural fire districts from Saline, Lincoln, Ottawa and Ellsworth counties battled the fire that was centered near Watkins and McGavern Roads about two miles north of I-70 in northwest Saline County and the fire went into Lincoln County.

Smoke from the fire that was reported around 3:30p.m. drifted south across I-70 and the visibility was reduced to near zero, and resulted in at least one injury accident.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the interstate was closed both eastbound and westbound between milepost 235 to 240.