Fatal crashes likely result of icy roads, authorities say

Icy road conditions on Friday possibly led to two fatal crashes in the Wichita metro area.

Around 3 p.m., two people were killed in a one-car crash near East Lake Road and 96th Street, about 10 miles southeast of Newton in Harvey County. Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said in a Facebook post that icy weather was to blame.

About two hours later, two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash reported on the Kansas Turnpike near Andover. At least three other people were injured.

Lanes in both directions were blocked as multiple local agencies responded to the crash.

Much of Kansas was hit with snow and freezing rain that began Thursday and continued to roll across the state Friday.

In Sedgwick County, 20 injury crashes and 53 non-injury crashes were reported from midnight to 6:45 p.m. Friday, according to the emergency dispatch system. Those figures do not include possible hit-and-runs, a dispatcher said. Weather is thought to be a factor in many of the accidents.

The ice and cold temperatures are expected to persist into the weekend, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service.

Wichita will likely see some freezing rain on Saturday morning, and in the evening hours there is a 40 to 50 percent chance for additional freezing precipitation, said Jim Caruso, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita.

“There could be some slick spots still, especially around secondary roads and overpasses,” he said. “If that precipitation materializes, it could cause additional problems.”

Wichita’s first melting chances will likely come Sunday afternoon, when the high is expected to be around 35 degrees. Overnight Sunday, the temperature will fall below freezing again.

Starting Monday, the area should see a warmup, Caruso said, with a high of 42 expected on Monday, and a high of 46 expected for Tuesday.

In the meantime, slick spots on elevated roadways and bridges could persist and refreeze.

Treating streets

Wichita’s snowplows were out in full force in the overnight hours Thursday into Friday, and 60 plows continued to treat the streets with a sand-salt mixture throughout the day Friday, said Alan King, the city’s director of public works and utilities.

“A little bit warmer temperatures and the wind helped to dry a lot of the roads,” he said. “We still have a little bit of standing water here and there because of the heavy rains we got, and the leaves that have fallen in the gutters.”

As rain chances decline later in the weekend, the city will pull back some of the plows and will run with at least 40, King said.

King said it is important to remember that the city’s plows only treat main arterial streets. Residential streets and parking lots often go untreated.

“We would caution people to be careful as they go into neighborhoods that we don’t treat,” King said. “Some parking lots will be slick, especially with the refreeze, although the main arterials will be in pretty good shape.”

Cancellations

The weather Friday prompted event cancellations and postponements throughout the city.

Illuminations at Botanica’s opening was postponed from Friday until Saturday.

“It looks like Mother Nature had other plans in mind. Despite all the holiday spirit, we’re going to delay the opening of Illuminations due to ice and slippery conditions in the gardens. NO ILLUMINATIONS TONIGHT,” a post on its Facebook page read.

The Arc’s Lights in west Wichita, which was postponed Thursday, opened Friday night instead.

Wichita Eisenhower National Airport is open, but at least five flights were cancelled Friday and many more were delayed. If you’re scheduled to fly, check the airport’s website for updated flight schedules.

Prairie Pines Christmas tree farm did not open Friday due to the weather.

“This is the first time in 35 years that weather has knocked us out on opening” a post on the farm’s Facebook page said. “We will open on Saturday from 9-5 with Santa arriving at 11 a.m.”

Power outages

Early Friday afternoon, power went out for more than 3,000 residents in Butler County, mostly near the El Dorado area.

Westar Energy said on its Twitter page that “weather and some icing has caused some issues.”

By 6 p.m. Friday, about 1,000 people in Butler County still did not have power.

Several power outages were reported Friday morning west and north of Wichita as well. By 6 p.m., most of those outages had been repaired.

Late Friday evening, another outage was reported west of Wichita and east of Kingman, affecting approximately 2,300 people. Power was restored by 7:30 p.m.

Western Kansas fatalities

The storm began Thursday in western Kansas and contributed to two fatal crashes there, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The first fatality occurred in Hodgeman County when a car ran off an icy road, hit a ditch and rolled. Another person also died Thursday near Holcomb when he was ejected from a pickup that hit some ice, rolled and hit a car.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 7:39 AM with the headline "Fatal crashes likely result of icy roads, authorities say."