Five injured in JoCo rollover crash

Posted: August 27, 2013 - 6:39am

Updated: August 27, 2013 - 10:47am

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The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating after five people were injured in a rollover accident Tuesday morning.

The accident occurred in the median of Interstate 435, south of the Renner Road bridge and north of the 79th Street bridge in Shawnee, around 6:15 a.m..

A witness tells Operation 100 News that the vehicle was northbound on Interstate 435 and left the east side of the highway near the 79th Street overpass. The vehicle then crossed the northbound lanes into the median, hit a crossover lane and rolled several times before landing near the southbound lanes.

Troopers have confirmed what a witness told Operation 100 earlier this morning. Troopers say the vehicle was a 2007 Dodge Caliber SXT and was traveling northbound on Interstate 435. As the highway curves to the left, the driver did not turn, causing the vehicle to leave the right side of the highway. The driver swerved back onto the highway and the vehicle began a counter-clockwise spin.

Troopers say the vehicle crossed all of the northbound lanes and entered the grassy median. In the median the vehicle overturned several times and one occupant was ejected. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels, just off of the southbound lanes.

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Dispatchers confirm that four adults and an infant were injured in the crash. One adult has life threatening injuries. The infant and three other adults are said to have non life threatening injuries.

Shawnee Firefighters extricated two people from the wreckage. The other vehicle occupants were able to get out of the crashed vehicle on their own.

A total of five Med-Act ambulances were dispatched to the scene. All but one of those ambulances transported injured people from the scene.

Troopers say the driver of the vehicle suffered a medical condition. It is unclear if that medical condition may have contributed to the accident's cause or if the medical issue was after the crash.

The driver has been identified as a, 39-year-old, Lenexa woman. Troopers say she was wearing a seat belt. Passengers in the vehicle are aged 1, 18, 21, and 22.

Other area media reported that four people were ejected in the crash, this is false according to multiple calls to dispatchers and the preliminary accident report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Shawnee Police say the accident is being investigated by the Kansas Highway Patrol. Lenexa Police also assisted on the scene with traffic control.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first, Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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