Interstate 70 has reopened to westbound traffic but remained closed to eastbound vehicles near downtown Topeka, nearly 12 hours after the fatal, pre-dawn of a tractor-trailer.
The crash happened just before 5 a.m. Tuesday, spilling hot asphalt oil from the rig’s tanker and pulling down an overhead sign. The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the driver as 57-year-old Paul Cardwell, of Abilene.
The Kansas Department of Transportation says westbound lanes reopened about 4:30 p.m., but eastbound lanes were expected to remain closed until late Tuesday. Eastbound traffic was being detoured while the hazardous oil was cleaned up and other wreckage was removed.
Interstate 70 has reopened to westbound traffic but remained closed to eastbound vehicles near downtown Topeka, nearly 12 hours after the fatal, pre-dawn of a tractor-trailer.
The crash happened just before 5 a.m. Tuesday, spilling hot asphalt oil from the rig’s tanker and pulling down an overhead sign. The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the driver as 57-year-old Paul Cardwell, of Abilene.
The Kansas Department of Transportation says westbound lanes reopened about 4:30 p.m., but eastbound lanes were expected to remain closed until late Tuesday. Eastbound traffic was being detoured while the hazardous oil was cleaned up and other wreckage was removed.
