interstate – Hays Post Archive

Interstate 70 accidents send several to hospital

Posted on January 5, 2014

The Kansas Highway Patrol responded to three accidents Saturday in Sherman County.

At 2:48 p.m. Saturday, a 1999 Jeep Cherokee driven by Jacob B. Gardner, 36, Bloomington, Ind., was westbound on Interstate 70 10 miles west of Goodland in the passing lane when the vehicle hit a patch of ice and went into the median. The Jeep rolled once and came to rest on its wheels.

Gardner and a passenger, Sarah S. Freeman, 22, Bloomington, were transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

Gardner was wearing a seat belt, while Freeman was unrestrained, the KHP said.

At 5:31 p.m. Saturday, a 2006 Toyota 4Runner, driven by Godoy Aldaberto Mendoza, 61, Burbank, Calif., was westbound on I-70 5 miles west of Goodland in the passing lane when it struck an unoccupied parked tow truck in the median. The tow truck had emergency lights on.

Mendoza was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center, along with passengers Blancha Mendoza, 50; Maria Mendoza, 17, and Ashley Mendoza, 11. All were wearing safety belts, the KHP reported.

At 5:16 p.m. Saturday, a 2002 Jeep SUV was westbound on I-70 5 miles west of Goodland when it struck an icy patch and rolled, coming to rest on the driver’s side.

The driver, Elyse N. Green, 18, Columbus, Ohio, was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center for treatment of possible injuries. She was wearing a safety belt.

One-vehicle accident on icy I-70 sends three to HaysMed

Posted on January 2, 2014January 2, 2014

Icy road conditions led to a one vehicle accident on Interstate 70 that sent three to the hospital.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the accident happened approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday. The driver, Rhyan Dawn Hand, 17, Pueblo, Colo., was westbound on I-70 approximately 1 mile west of Ellis when she lost control on the icy road. The car fish-tailed, struck a guardrail and entered the north ditch.

Hand was not injured in the accident. The other three occupants in the vehicle, Nizhoni A Rapar, 15; Etsitty A Rapar, 5; and Inikki Annalayne Begay, 20, all of Pueblo, were transported to Hays Medical Center with possible injuries. All four were wearing seat belts, the KHP reported.

KDOT announces approved December bids

Posted on December 30, 2013December 30, 2013

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Transportation today announced approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in northwest Kansas.

District Three – Northwest

Ellis County: Interstate 70 from Hays east to the county line, milling and overlay, 15.4 miles, Venture Corporation, Great Bend, $3,761,568.40.

Thomas County: Interstate 70/U.S. Highway 24 junction east to just east of the I‑70/Kansas Highway 25 junction, sealing, 8.4 miles, Heft and Sons LLC, Greensburg, $862,139.10.

Thomas County: U.S. Highway 24, Interstate 70 north and east to Colby, sealing, 8.3 miles, Heft and Sons LLC, Greensburg, $263,080.80.

KDOT crews ready for the snow

Posted on December 19, 2013

Winter starts, but ahead of schedule a winter snow storm is predicted to hit the state overnight.

According to Peter Carttar, assistant bureau chief of maintenance, this is the time of year when the KDOT crews shine.

“It’s really up to Mother Nature now and we’ve done what we can do at this point and now it’s up to her. This is the time when our crews have the opportunity to do work that we know the public is going to see and they all are very aware of that,” Carttar said. “They work in the communities that they live in.”

As usual, KDOT will join with other state and local agencies to enhance the safety of travelers before, during and after the storm.

“The Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Division of Emergency Management and the Kansas Highway Patrol, along with countless local partners, will be out working and monitoring conditions. We want all Kansas travelers to be able to safely arrive at their destinations,” said Col. Ernest E. Garcia, KHP Superintendent.

One of the best ways to stay safe on the road over the next few days and during the holiday travel period is to know the conditions before venturing out. KDOT has a variety of ways to get information about road conditions. Travelers can obtain route-specific road conditions and weather by calling 5-1-1. The same information and more can be obtained by visiting the KanDrive website, https://www.kandrive.org, which also has maps, camera views of many routes and more, and the 511 mobile site, https://511mm.ksdot.org.

Those planning to travel during or after the storm should follow the following safety tips:

• Completely clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, and lights, and use headlights to provide optimum visibility.
• Slow down, accelerate and brake gently, and increase following distance between other vehicles.
• Don’t use cruise control.
• Allow for more travel time.
• Always wear a seat belt, and secure children in the proper child safety seats.
• Slow down and move over for stopped emergency vehicles and maintenance crews.
• If involved in a traffic crash, or need assistance, call 911, or contact the Patrol at *47 (*HP) from a cellphone. Call *582 (*KTA) on the Kansas Turnpike.
To find out road conditions, call 511 from a landline or cellphone, or view conditions at: www.kandrive.org.

— Submitted by the Kansas Department of Transportation