Patrick
A serious crash early Friday morning forced the closure of both northbound and southbound lanes of I-35 on the Kansas Turnpike, just north of Matfield Green in Lyon County. The incident caused massive delays and kept the interstate shut down for much of the day.
Crash Details and Timeline
According to officials, the collision occurred shortly after 5 a.m. near the 119-mile marker on northbound I-35.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that a 2007 semi-tractor had become disabled in the median, extending across both traffic lanes.
A second semi-truck then collided with the disabled vehicle, which was already hanging over the concrete barrier. Moments later, a third semi-truck—unable to stop in time—crashed into the trailer of the second truck.
Injuries Reported
The drivers of the second and third semis, a Kansas resident and an Arizona resident, suffered minor injuries. They were treated following the accident.
Livestock Trailer Involved
One of the trucks was transporting cattle, but authorities have not yet confirmed how many animals were hurt or killed during the crash. Emergency responders spent hours managing the scene, including the livestock situation and vehicle recovery.
Road Closures and Detours
KanDrive issued an alert stating that both directions of I-35 were closed between mile markers 92 and 127.
Detours included:
- Northbound traffic redirected at Exit 92/K-177 near Cassoday
- Southbound traffic routed off at Exit 127/I-35/US-50 near Emporia
These detours remained in place for several hours until crews cleared the roadway.
Highway Reopened
By later in the day, KanDrive confirmed that both directions of the Kansas Turnpike had fully reopened, allowing traffic to resume its normal flow.
Friday’s multi-semi collision on the Kansas Turnpike led to significant disruption along I-35, with both lanes closed for an extended period.
Although the crash involved multiple trucks—and even a cattle hauler—only minor injuries were reported. Thanks to quick response efforts and coordinated detours, the highway was safely reopened after several hours.