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Lawrence woman killed after crash with semi-truck on I-70 in Independence: Police

Police car lights in night time, crime scene, night patrolling the city. Abstract blurry image. Photo by Getty Images This is a stock image downloaded from Getty Images. It is a Royalty Free image.
Police car lights in night time, crime scene, night patrolling the city. Abstract blurry image. Photo by Getty Images This is a stock image downloaded from Getty Images. It is a Royalty Free image. Getty Images/iStockphoto

One person died when their vehicle hit a tractor-trailer on Interstate 70 in Independence Thursday night.

A Ford Focus was traveling west on I-70 near Noland Road just after 8 p.m. when it struck the back of a stopped semi-truck, according to a news release from the Independence Police Department.

The semi stopped due to a vehicle ahead having mechanical issues, police said.

Paramedics pronounced the driver of the Ford Focus dead at the scene. A passenger from the Ford Focus was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Both occupants wore seat belts at the time of the crash, the news release said.

Police identified the driver of the Ford Focus as Crystal Williams, 39, of Lawrence, Kansas.

Occupants of the semi-truck were not injured in the crash, police said.

Parts of the road remained closed for three hours while crews worked to clear the scene. All lanes of I-70 were reopened around 11:55 p.m. Thursday, police said. The crash remains under investigation.

Kendrick Calfee
The Kansas City Star
Kendrick Calfee covers breaking news for The Kansas City Star. He studied journalism and broadcasting at Northwest Missouri State University. Before joining The Star, he covered education, local government and sports at the Salina Journal.
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