Quick Facts:
Where: The accident occurred on Interstate 135 at the exchange with Highway 81 and I-70 in Saline County, Kansas.
What Happened: A tractor-trailer allegedly lost control before it struck a car, crashed through a bridge railing, and landed on the interstate below.
Participants:
- Darlene McCall, driver of Chrysler 300
- Rosa Maria Orozco, passenger in Chrysler 300
- Earl Griffin Jr, driver of tractor-trailer
- Durand L. Weidman, driver of Dodge Ram
Reported Injuries/Fatalities:
- Darlene McCall, 57, injured
- Rosa Maria Orozco, 69, injured
- Earl Griffin Jr, 61, injured
Details:
On or about Tuesday, October 13th, 2020, around 1:00 in the afternoon, a multi-vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer sent three individuals to the hospital. The accident happened at the exchange of Interstate 135, Interstate 70, and Highway 81 in Saline County, Kansas.
Kansas State Police Troopers said that 57-year-old Houston, Texas resident Darlene McCall and 69-year-old Lyford, Texas resident Rosa Maria Orozco were in a car that was allegedly struck by a tractor-trailer driven by 61-year-old Earl Griffin Jr, of Wichita when the car stopped for traffic.
After the initial collision, the tractor-trailer continued onward before it crashed through a bridge railing and landed on Interstate 70 below. A pickup truck driven by Durand L. Weidman was hit by debris from the crash while navigating the lanes of Interstate 70.
Griffin, Orozco, and McCall were taken to nearby Salina Regional Health Center with unknown injuries.
Authorities closed several lanes of traffic in order to conduct their investigation, which is still active and ongoing.