Minor injuries after I-135 semi wreck throws street sweeper worker into canal, officials say

Update, 9:50 a.m. Thursday:

The semi driver headed north on I-135 crashed into a Ford F-750, which was on the shoulder, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol report. The F-750 then pushed into a street sweeper. A 31-year-old man outside of the vehicles during the wreck was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, the Highway Patrol said.

Update, 10:45 p.m. Wednesday:

A worker of a street sweeper crew was thrown into the canal and critically hurt after a semi crash on I-135 in central Wichita Wednesday evening, firefighters said.

The Wichita Fire Department said in a Facebook post that firefighters rescued the individual after the semi struck the street sweeper crew and the collision threw a worker into the water. Paramedics took the patient to a hospital in serious condition.

Photos from the fire department show a ladder truck extended out over the canal.

Original story:

Emergency crews are responding to an injury accident involving a semi that has closed a portion of an interstate in central Wichita.

First responders were called at around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday to a crash with people hurt on I-135 north of Lincoln.

A traffic camera image from the Kansas Department of Transportation appeared to show emergency crews surrounding a semi on the exit from I-135 to Kellogg.

Emergency radio traffic indicated diesel fuel from a saddle tank of a semi was leaking and running into grass. Both northbound lanes were closed with traffic on the interstate forced to exit.

This story was originally published February 19, 2020 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Minor injuries after I-135 semi wreck throws street sweeper worker into canal, officials say."