Wichita man killed in Kansas Turnpike collision identified

A 39-year-old Wichita man was killed early Tuesday morning in a collision involving two semitrailers on the Kansas Turnpike south of Emporia, authorities said.

The collision occurred at 1:57 a.m. in the northbound lanes at Mile Marker 116, according to a turnpike emergency dispatcher. The first semi slowed down because of a pedestrian in the roadway and the second semi struck the back of the first, according to an accident report filed by the Kansas Turnpike Authority.

The second semi became engulfed in flames and its driver — identified as Michael Lyden of Wichita — was killed. The driver of the first semi, a 58-year-old man from Raytown, Mo., was not injured. The pedestrian, who is a juvenile male, also escaped injury.

One lane is open both directions as crews work to clear the wreckage from the scene, turnpike spokeswoman Rachel Bell said.

Mile Marker 116 is the site of Jacob Creek, where a flash flood in 2003 killed six people — including five members of the same family.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Wichita man killed in Kansas Turnpike collision identified."