Update: Critical injuries in Anderson County accident

Posted: September 6, 2013 - 1:08am
Updated: September 6, 2013 - 2:14pm

Update:

The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the two men injured in this morning's accident.

Troopers say Ryan Stone, 37, of Meadville, Missouri and Isiah Jones, 55, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri were both critically injured in a single vehicle accident early Friday.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper say the men were riding in a 2001 International and were westbound on K-58, approximately 5 miles west of Colony, Kansas. The truck went off the right side of the roadway and struck two signs, the vehicle then crossed back to the left side of the road, where it struck a tree, in the ditch.

The vehicle was heavily damaged and both men were extricated from the vehicle by local firefighters.

Mr. Stone was transported to a Kansas City area trauma center and Mr. Jones was transported to a Topeka trauma center. Both men remained in serious condition at last check.

Original Report:

Google Earth image of the area
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Anderson County authorities are investigating after two people were critically injured in a rollover accident this morning.

The accident was reported shortly after 12:30 Friday morning, on K-58 near SW Colorado, or approximately five miles west of US-169 highway, outside of Colony, Kansas.

First responders arrived to find a two-ton railroad maintenance truck with very heavy damage. Crews worked for more than 30 minutes to extricate both occupants from the truck.

Two medical helicopters responded and transported both of the injured to trauma centers for further treatement.

The intersection remained closed until around 2:30 a.m..

The accident scene is about 70 miles south of Downtown Lawrence, or 80 miles southwest of the intersection of 75th Street and Interstate 35 in Overland Park.

Law enforcement and firefighters from Allen County and Coffey County assisted Anderson County on the call.

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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Historic steam locomotive rolls through Johnson County

Posted: October 15, 2012 - 8:54am

Union Pacific Steam Locomotive No. 844 as seen by
the Kansas City Scout traffic camera at Interstate 35
and Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, KS

The last steam locomotive built for the Union Pacific Railroad rolled through Johnson County, Kansas this morning.

Steam Locomotive No. 844 is a high-speed passenger engine which was delivered to Union Pacific in 1944. The locomotive ran passenger trains until diesel locomotives took over that role in the 1950's. No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska between 1957 and 1959.


The locomotive was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and was held by the railroad for special service.

Union Pacific's webpage dedicated to No. 844, says "the engine has run hundreds of thousands of miles as Union Pacific's ambassador of goodwill."

No. 844 is beyond the halfway point in a 13,000 mile trek through 15 states as Union Pacific celebrates their 150th anniversary and 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln created the original Union Pacific by signing the Pacific Railway Act on July 1, 1862. The journey began in California, with a two day celebration, September 29-30th.

The train includes a 1960's vintage Promontory baggage car that has been retrofitted into a state-of-the-art traveling museum and a recently launched Union Pacific Locomotive which reduces emissions and provides a glimpse into the future of railroading.

This past Saturday, No. 844 steamed through Lawrence, Kansas where it was captured on video by the Lawrence Journal-World's Chief Photographer, Mike Yoder.

No. 844 was also captured on video this Monday morning as it passed through Merriam, Kansas, near Shawnee Mission Parkway and Interstate 35 by Operation 100 News follower, Curtis Wells.

The train is scheduled to arrive at in Houston, Texas on Friday, October 26th at 2 p.m. local time.

You can stay up-to-date with the location of the train by following GPS tracking on Twitter. The schedule for the remainder of the journey can be found here and more information on the famous Living Legend No. 844 can be found here from Union Pacific.

If you managed to capture No. 844 in pictures or video, you can submit them to Operation 100 News by email.

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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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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