Fatal accident prompts Basehor and KDOT to reduce speed limit on U.S. 24/40 Highway.

Following a tragic incident in which a teenager lost his life in a traffic accident in June, officials from the local and state levels responded by implementing a speed limit reduction from 65 to 55 miles per hour on sections of U.S. 24/40 Highway. The purpose of this adjustment, as outlined in a joint communication from the Kansas Department of Transportation and the City of Basehor, is to encourage safer driving practices, decrease speeds in the area, and improve overall road safety for all travelers. The modified speed limits will specifically apply to different stretches of the highway: for westbound Highway 24/40, the new 55 mph limit will commence just west of 150th Street and extend to approximately a half-mile past 158th Street, while for eastbound Highway 24/40, the 55 mph speed zone will initiate about a half-mile prior to 158th Street and continue to just west of 150th Street. To alert motorists about these changes, both fixed and variable electronic signage will be erected along these segments in the near future. Fixed signs indicating the reduced speed areas and displaying the updated speed limits are scheduled for installation starting the week of August 25, with dynamic speed feedback signs that inform drivers of their current speed to be added later this autumn. Basehor Mayor Dick Drennon shared with KSHB 41 correspondent Rachel Henderson about the city's efforts over nearly two decades to achieve a speed limit reduction along the highway. Reflecting on the community's determination, resident Tammy Wilson Potts expressed gratitude for the petition that garnered significant support. Furthermore, Mayor Drennon recounted his personal experience of being involved in a collision in October 2024 at the intersection of 155th Street and State Avenue. The tragic incident involving the passing of 16-year-old Cody Lamping in a traffic crash underscored the urgency of these safety improvements, following a violation of a red light that resulted in a collision with a pickup truck.