Two people killed in fiery Wabaunsee County I-70 crash identified

WABAUNSEE COUNTY (KSNT) – State troopers have identified two people who died in a Friday crash on I-70 in Wabaunsee County Friday. The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) reports the crash happened shortly after 3:45 p.m. on June 5 in the westbound lanes of I-70 a short distance west of where it intersects with Spring Creek Road near McFarland. The crash involved a 2024 Kenworth semi truck and a 2020 Buick Envision. The driver of the semi truck was heading east on I-70 when, for an unknown reason, he crossed the center median and entered the westbound lanes of traffic, according to the KHP. The semi truck then struck the Buick in the westbound lanes, also causing the Buick to catch on fire. The KHP said the driver of the Buick, 70-year-old Barbara Krier of Great Bend, died as a result of the crash alongside one passenger in her vehicle, 50-year-old Steven Reed of Topeka. Medical personnel life-flighted a seven-year-old Topeka boy who was also inside the Buick to a Kansas City hospital for treatment of severe injuries. The KHP reports the semi driver, a 45-year-old man from Michigan, had minor injuries following the crash. Krier, Reed and the semi driver were all wearing seatbelts, according to the KHP. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf