Wrong-way, head-on crash shuts down I-70 in west Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - One person was taken to a local hospital following a wrong-way, head-on crash early Friday on Interstate 70 in west Topeka.

The crash was reported at 7:17 a.m. on westbound I-70 near the US-75 interchange.

Accordingn to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Mark Layne Pudwill, 55, of Topeka, was driving a 2021 Mazda CX5 eastbound in the westbound lanes when his vehicle collided head-on with a Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle driven by Brent Edgecomb, 37, of Lenexa. that was westbound on I-70.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said both men were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Edgecomb was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries.

There was no record of Pudwill requiring ambulance transportation to the hospital.

As crews responded to the crash, westbound I-70 was shut down for more than an hour.

Traffic was diverted onto northbound US-75 highway, where it proceeded over the Westgate Bridge.

Westbound I-70 traffic then exited US-75 highway at N.W. Lower Silver Lake Road, went a short distance west under the US-75 overpass, then entered southbound US-75 highway, where it went back across the Westgate Bridge and was able to re-enter westbound I-70.

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