Winter storm causes wrecks; schools close for Tuesday
Shawn F. Linenberger
An SUV is off the road Monday at U.S. Highway 24-40 near the Tonganoxie High School entrance. A white truck turning onto North Star Drive from the east on U.S. 24-40 spins out and fish tails, but was able to proceed.Downtown Tonganoxie is a winter wonderland Monday near Fourth and Delaware streets.[/caption]The first winter storm of the season rang December in with more than 4 inches of snow throughout the area and caused numerous vehicles to veer off the road, along with several accidents.
Tonganoxie reportedly received more than 4.5 inches of snow as the day progressed. Traffic was limited for a time on Kansas Highway 16, according to Leavenworth County Undersheriff Jim Sherley.
The undersheriff noted Tuesday morning that the sheriff’s office worked a dozen accidents, with three being injury accidents and a rollover wreck. He estimated that were more than another 20 additional calls for service related to slide-offs.
Tonganoxie Police Chief Greg Lawson said Tuesday said that there were no serious accidents with injury inside city limits, but said there were multiple accidents throughout the city Monday.
In total, there were five non-injury accidents, Lawson said.
Tonganoxie City Fire Chief John Zimbelman reported Tuesday morning that his department responded to two weather-related calls, including a semi-truck wreck on Interstate-70 that required extrication.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a two semi-truck accident that occurred just before 9:15 a.m. Monday near mile marker 213 in Leavenworth County.
A 2023 Peterbilt semi driven by Joshua Daniel, 43, Rices Landing, Pennsylvania, was headed west on I-70. A 2022 Volvo semi driven by Atabay Charyyev, 23, Chicago, also was headed west on I-70. Charyyev slowed down due to traffic and road conditions and the semi Daniels was driving rear-ended the semi Charyyev was driving.
Daniel was taken to Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, with suspected serious injury, while a passenger, Robert Kubicek, Hunker, Pennsylvania, was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for suspected serious injury. Daniel was wearing a safety restraint, while Kubicek was not, according to KHP reports. Charyyev was wearing a safety restraint and didn’t have any apparent injuries.
The weather made for delays in families getting students to school Monday morning.
That evening, Tonganoxie USD 464 and Genesis Schools, as well as McLouth USD 342 were among local districts and schools calling off Tuesday classes.
Others in the area that canceled classes were Basehor-Linwood USD 458, Eudora USD 491, Pleasant Ridge USD 449, Lansing USD 207, Leavenworth USD 453, Piper USD 203 and De Soto USD 232. Baldwin City USD 348 had a late start at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
There is continued chance for precipitation throughout the week, according to weather.com. The highest chance is today at 20%. Though a low of 10 degrees is expected today, there should be a high of 40 on Friday and 41 on Saturday.