U.S.-50 patrols increased years ago
The Kansas Highway Patrol has increased trooper patrols on U.S.-50 since three fatal accidents in construction zones claimed nine lives in less than two months.
Lt. Bruce Hyman of KHP verified Tuesday Kansas Department of Transportation had allocated funds for additional KHP personnel to patrol the construction zones between Florence and Walton. Hyman said the information from KDOT was through an e-mail document dated July 12.
"(Kansas Highway Patrol) Troopers can work in an over-time status to patrol U.S.-50," said Hyman. Additional funding allows troopers to extend their shifts by two hours or work overtime.
Local troopers also are covering U.S.-50 and other state highways, as usual.
"MCSAP (Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program) personnel have been specifically assigned to that stretch of highway," said Hyman. MCSAP is a federally funded program and part of the KHP division.
KDOT construction dates were listed as March through November for U.S.-50 in Marion and Harvey counties.
Some highway construction moves daily to the east. This phase will end at Florence.
Beginning Monday, construction will resume at Elmdale and continue east to Strong City, a total of 7 miles.
Traffic will be carried through the construction zone by pilot car. Drivers should be prepared to stop for delays for up to 15 minutes.
Message boards will continue to alert drivers ahead on either end of the project.
Other highway construction will continue west of Peabody to Walton through November.
All three accidents were caused by semi-trucks rear-ending passenger vehicles stopped for highway construction.
The first accident occurred May 10 at the Marion-Harvey County line.
The accident killed two Marion women — Brandi R. Billbe, 40, and Lori B. Leeders, 42. A passenger, Ashley Billbe, 15, was seriously injured in the accident. The driver of a semi tractor-trailer, J.B. Miser, 61, of Emporia, failed to stop in a construction zone and rear-ended the van containing the three females. A chain-reaction accident occurred involving a Federal Express truck and a passenger vehicle.
On June 28, two men from Mexico and Canada died when the pickup they were riding in was rear-ended by a semi tractor-trailer driven by 50-year-old Michael W. Hardwick of El Paso, Texas.
A June 29 accident claimed the lives of five people when a semi tractor-trailer driven by 33-year-old Rich Duncan slammed into the rear-end of a van containing three family members from Wright. The semi then hit another passenger vehicle containing a husband and wife from Wichita. All five passengers in the two vehicles were killed.
Charges are expected to be filed in all three cases.
