HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a three vehicle crash and fire that shut down portions of U.S. 50 in Harvey County have identified the drivers involved.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that just after 1:30p.m. Wednesday, a 2017 Buick Enclave driven by Mary K. Hall, 84, Newton, was eastbound on U.S. 50 one half mile east of Anderson Street.
The driver attempted to change lanes and struck an eastbound 2022 Peterbilt semi driven by Jose E Chaves-Rosales, 38, Canutillo, Texas. The impact caused the Buick to cross the median and strike a westbound 2013 Freightliner semi driven by Luis R. Simon, 60, Emporia.
After impact, the Freightliner crossed the median, entered the south ditch, traveled through a KDOT fence and struck a storage facility that started a fire.
Multiple RVs burned in the fire, and the building structure was seriously damaged, according to Newton Fire and EMS. About 25 acres on the north side of U.S. 50 burned, but crews were able to keep the fire from jumping SW 14th Street toward the residential neighborhood.
EMS transported Hall to Wesley Medical Center and Simon to Newton Medical Center. Chaves-Rosales was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.