Troopers identify man killed in Sunday morning crash in Olathe

Posted: April 8, 2019 - 2:59 p.m.
Updated: April 8, 2019 - 4:04 p.m.

A 35-year-old KCK man has been identified as the person killed
in a crash with a tractor-trailer early Sunday in Olathe.
All photos are ©Mike Frizzell - Operation 100 News

The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified a 35-year-old Kansas City, Kansas man as the person killed in a crash with a tractor-trailer early Sunday morning.

Troopers say the crash occurred about 12:02 a.m. Sunday on northbound Interstate 35 just north of the 119th Street overpass.

The Highway Patrol's crash log says a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 was traveling northbound in an unknown lane when the driver lost control, ran off the road to the left, struck the median barrier wall, and became disabled in the left lane.

The pickup truck came to rest on the far side of the tractor-trailer
While visible on the scene, the truck is intentionally not pictured

Troopers say a 2014 International semi-power unit was also traveling northbound in the left lane. The driver of the tractor-trailer did not see the disabled pickup and crashed into it.

The Olathe Fire Department and Johnson County Med-Act responded to the crash scene with Olathe Police and the Kansas Highway Patrol. The pickup's driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Monday, Troopers identified the driver of the pickup truck as Nolvin Nain Lopez-Flores, 35, of Kansas City, Kansas. The crash log says Lopez-Flores was not believed to have been wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was identified as a 62-year-old man from Buckner, Missouri. He was not injured in the crash. While this driver is named in the crash log, Operation 100 News will not be releasing his name as he has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing.

A law-enforcement officer at the scene confirmed to Operation 100 News that the tractor-trailer's driver remained on scene, called for help, and is cooperating with the investigation.

The Highway Patrol's crash log says next of kin notification was made by two Troopers about 11:50 p.m. Sunday.

Radio traffic from the investigating Troopers indicated the Highway Patrol was having difficulty locating a next of kin. The pickup truck involved was registered to Flores-Lopez's employer.

Olathe Police and the Kansas Highway Patrol investigate the deadly crash
as the Olathe Fire Department removes debris to reopen one lane of the Interstate.

A firefighter surveys the debris field through the smoke of flares

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