An investigation continues after several crashes happened on Interstate 35 near BETO Junction shortly after 6 am Friday.
The Coffey County Sheriff’s Office says a southbound car hit a deer and was disabled on the Interstate. The car’s driver saw two semi trucks approaching. As the driver ran towards the median to avoid the large trucks, one of the semis hit the disabled car, pushed it almost through the median to the northbound side of the highway and overturned.
A deputy then arrived and parked in the inside northbound lane to move traffic to the outside lane while giving emergency responders a chance to do their work and ensure the car would not catch fire. However, shortly after the deputy’s vehicle was in position, a minivan hit the SUV at highway speed. Troopers say the driver, 22-year-old Jacob Waugh of Topeka, was distracted by the initial wreck and crashed into the deputy’s SUV. Waugh was taken to Newman Regional Health with suspected minor injuries.
The Sheriff’s Office says a second driver was hurt and transported to an unnamed Topeka hospital. That driver’s name has not been divulged.