KCK man killed after trying to outrun police in JoCo

Posted: December 3, 2014 - 12:38am
Updated: December 6, 2014 - 1:07am

Gardner Police and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office are investigating after a police pursuit ended in a fatal accident Wednesday morning.

Gardner Police were called to a gas station near 188th and Gardner Road just after midnight on reports of an intoxicated person driving an SUV. There was a second report of a possibly intoxicated driver in a dark-colored SUV that was traveling southbound on Gardner Road.

Officers spotted a dark-colored SUV getting on northbound Interstate 35 from Gardner Road. The driver did not stop when officers attempted a traffic stop. Gardner officers began to pursue the vehicle.

The driver turned around near 175th Street and sped off southbound on Interstate 35 around 12:10 Wednesday morning. Officers reported the SUV was driving erratically with speeds between 60 and 70 miles-per-hour as they continued in pursuit.

Master Deputy Jill Koch of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office says, "Gardner officers observed continuous erratic behavior that posed a great risk to public safety. Repeated attempts to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful."

The driver of the 1996 Toyota 4Runner then exited at Homestead Lane and continued northbound onto the property of BNSF Railway's Logistics Park Kansas City Intermodal Facility at 32880 West 191st Street.

The pursuit then left the Intermodal Facility, returned southbound on Homestead Lane and then westbound on 199th Street.

Gardner Police continued in pursuit as Sheriff's Deputies tried to get in front of the pursuit from the west side of Edgerton. Deputies were trying to get into position to use spike strips on the suspect vehicle's tires.

The suspect vehicle crashed near Mildale Farms at 35250 West 199th Street just after 12:15 a.m.. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Gardner officers reported the driver had been ejected from the vehicle and immediately requested Med-Act to respond.

Johnson County Fire District No. 1 and Johnson County Med-Act were dispatched and arrived in less than five minutes. The first fire unit to arrive at the crash scene reported the car was off of the road and on its side.

Master Deputy Koch confirmed in a news release on Wednesday, that the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

A news release on Friday identified the driver as Arthur Lee Wright, 65, of Kansas City, Kansas.

The pursuit covered about 10 miles in just under 10 minutes.

Check back 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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Man critically injured after being struck by train in Johnson County

Posted: September 15, 2012 - 3:36am
Updated: September 16, 2012 - 2:11am

A man is in critical condition this morning after being struck by a train south of Olathe.

Officials say shortly before 3 a.m. a man was walking on the railroad tracks near U.S. 169 Highway south of 167th Street when he was struck by a train. Once the slow moving Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was able to stop, the engineer called for help and located the man, unconscious.

Sheriff's Deputies arrived on scene and confirmed the man was unconscious, but breathing. Firefighters from the Olathe Fire Department and Johnson County Fire District No. 2, along with Johnson County Med-Act arrived on scene and reported critical injuries.

The man, only described as being in his late 20's or early 30's was transported to an area trauma center for treatment.

Northbound lanes on U.S. 169 highway were closed for a short time while crews were on the scene. The highway has since reopened. All rail traffic is being diverted around the area as the investigation continues, according to a BNSF spokesperson.

The Sheriff's Office says the man's injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

No other information is currently being released. Authorities say they are investigating why the man was walking on the tracks and what, if any, role alcohol may have played in the accident.

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. No reports from any other media until after 8 a.m..

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Pedestrian killed when struck by a train in Johnson County

Posted: July 25, 2012 - 2:07am
Updated: July 25, 2012 - 7:44am

Merriam Police are investigating after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train just east of the intersection of 57th Street and Kessler Lane. Police received a call from the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe reporting one of their trains had struck a pedestrian around 1:55 a.m..

Police arrived on scene and had located the pedestrian by 2 a.m.. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

The railroad crossing just west of Interstate 35 on Johnson Drive was closed for about five hours as the involved train stopped at the scene for Police to investigate the accident.

The trains engineer tells Police that he saw a male lying on the tracks but, was unable to stop the train to avoid hitting the man. Investigators believe the train was traveling 30-35 miles per hour when the man was spotted on the tracks.

Police ask anyone who may have been in the area around the time the incident occurred to contact them. Officers are also checking with surrounding businesses equipped with security cameras that may have captured the incident on tape.

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

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Missing Topeka man found dead in rural Douglas County

Posted: January 5, 2012 - 11:15am
Updated: January 5, 2012 - 4:32pm

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a body was found in extreme northwest Douglas County. Reports of a possibly deceased person were reportedly received from a Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad employee.

Sheriff's Deputies were called to the 1 block of N 2190 Road around 10:45 a.m., Thursday morning. This area is northwest of Lecompton and reportedly just south of the railroad tracks which run along the Kansas River.

Operation 100 News reporting partner, the Lawrence Journal-World reports that Douglas County Undersheriff Steve Hornberger has identified the man as Corey Brown, a 39-year-old Topeka man. Topeka Police are also on the scene assisting with the investigation. The case remains under investigation as a "suspicious death" More details can be found here from the Lawrence Journal-World.

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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Johnson Drive closure

Posted: October 21, 2011 - 3:40pm

Updated: October 28, 2011 - 6:24pm

UPDATE: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad has announced that this closure will remain in place until Saturday  November 5th. Construction was initially scheduled to be completed by October 29th. No reason was given for the extension.

Starting Saturday, October 22, 2011, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) has closed a stretch of Johnson Drive in Merriam. The closure extends from between Slater Street and Kessler Lane, about 0.27 miles. This closure will also force Interstate 35 traffic to seek an alternate route as all of the ramps between Interstate 35 and Johnson Drive are also closed.

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Routes marked in red will be closed

Traffic controls and marked detours will be posted on all sides of the closure notifying motorists and providing alternate routes.

The closure is in place to allow the BNSF to complete a reconstruction of the mainline railroad crossing at Johnson Drive and is expected to remain in place through Saturday, October 29, 2011. The length of the closure could be shorter or longer depending on weather and construction conditions.

Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the project is directed to the following

• Merriam's City Engineer - (913) 322-5522
• Merriam Public Works Department - (913) 322-5570
• BNSF Roadmaster - (913) 807-0071

All information provided by the City of Merriam, Kansas and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.

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