by Randy Picking ~ Salina Post

A Kansas truck driver was not hurt, when his semi struck an elk that was going across I-70 early Monday morning about a mile east of the Niles Road exit, or about 10 miles east of Salina.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner says the driver was westbound in a empty cattle hauling semi about 4:15 am Monday morning, when he saw the elk going from north to south across the highway, tried to avoid hitting it, but was not able to do so.

The impact with the elk damaged the radiator of the semi, disabling the truck. Trooper Gardner says it is very unusual for accidents involving elk in central Kansas. There are some small herds of elk around Ft. Riley.

The driver of the truck Todd Crome driving for TC Trucking LLC.