Two people were killed Wednesday afternoon in a head-on crash on I-70 near Junction City after a pickup truck reportedly struck multiple vehicles in Riley County before traveling the wrong way on the interstate.
According to the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began just after 4 p.m. when authorities received reports of an erratic driver in a red Ford F-150 traveling along the K-18 Bypass.
Riley County dispatchers advised that the pickup had reportedly struck five or six other vehicles before continuing into Geary County. Additional callers reported the vehicle was being driven erratically, appeared to be emitting smoke and was causing other motorists to keep their distance.
At approximately 4:15 p.m., Geary County Sheriff’s deputies spotted the pickup traveling westbound on I-70 near mile marker 299. Deputies activated their emergency lights and sirens and attempted to catch up to the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop.
Authorities said the pickup slowed to exit I-70 at Exit 296, near South Washington Street. The driver traveled through the grass median of a roundabout before continuing south and turning east onto the westbound I-70 off-ramp, traveling in the wrong direction.
Deputies did not follow the pickup onto the wrong-way ramp. Instead, they continued south on Washington Street and used the eastbound I-70 on-ramp to regain sight of the vehicle.
Upon entering the interstate, deputies observed that the pickup had collided head-on with another vehicle in the westbound lanes of I-70.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the pickup was a 2004 Ford F-150 driven by Seth A. Moreland, 41, of Caney. The second vehicle was a westbound 2019 Cadillac XT5 driven by Diane M. Lister, 62, of Chapman.
Deputies immediately approached both vehicles and attempted lifesaving measures. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal crash.
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