Fix turnpike flood hazards

After floodwater swept six people off the Kansas Turnpike to their deaths in 2003, the Kansas Turnpike Authority should have acted promptly to prevent a similar tragedy. But just 2 miles north of that location, another flash flood led to the death this month of a college student.

Will the KTA make flood control a top priority now?

Zachary Clark of Texas was on his way back to a summer internship with the Catholic Diocese in Minnesota when his car hit a wave of the water covering the turnpike, spun around and ended up in a ditch full of water. What occurred next was a horrifying scene, witnessed by other motorists, in which Clark’s car was sucked underwater toward a drainage culvert while he was halfway out a window.

Clark’s body was recovered about 50 feet from his car on the other side of the culvert.

Tragic, unexpected accidents happen. But the KTA knew this area had a potential flooding problem, and it has had plans for years to reduce that risk.

Kansas Turnpike CEO Steve Hewitt said the authority was in the process of getting permits to expand the culvert to carry more floodwater and keep water off the road. What has taken so long?

Eagle readers also have asked why there aren’t guardrails along low-lying areas of the turnpike. Good question.

The stretch of the turnpike through the Flint Hills is scenic. It also must be safe.

For the editorial board, Phillip Brownlee

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 7:07 PM with the headline "Fix turnpike flood hazards."