Wrong-way driver is killed in wreck that closed Interstate 435 in Lenexa

The driver of a pickup truck that was headed the wrong way on Interstate 435 Wednesday morning in Lenexa was killed in a wreck that closed the interstate for hours.

The wreck occurred about 4 a.m. when a Ford F-250 pickup truck driving north in the southbound lanes of I-435 struck a semi truck pulling two trailers in a head-on collision.

The F-250 was separated into two parts and the driver was killed, according to Lt. Jason Wohlgemuth of the Kansas Highway Patrol. That driver was not immediately named by the patrol as family members were being notified.

The driver of the semi truck was not injured.

Debris from the wreck hit a third vehicle. The driver of that car was not injured.

The wreck closed the interstate in both directions for hours.

The highway patrol is investigating the wreck. On Wednesday morning, crash investigators remained at the scene to map the wreckage.

The two surviving drivers were tested for impairment and were found not impaired.

In searching for the cause of such wrong-way wrecks, the patrol typically looks for possible impairment, the possibility that the driver is unfamiliar with the road, or suicide.

Such wrecks occur, “too often, unfortunately,” Wohlgemuth said.

The interstate remained closed while a Hazmat team cleaned up a fuel spill from the wreck. The patrol said the interstate could be opened later in the morning.

The investigation into the crash continued.

This story was originally published August 15, 2018 at 6:34 AM.