I-70 reopens after Thursday night wreck knocks power lines onto highway

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - I-70 in west Topeka reopened early Friday morning following a single vehicle wreck.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said a pickup truck driven by Anson Jacobsen, 20, of Junction City was headed east on I-70 just before 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27th and left the road to the right, hitting a telephone pole. The truck then came to rest on Wanamaker Rd.

The impact from the crash caused the power lines to come down and were strewn across both lanes of I-70.

I-70 was closed in the area for several hours overnight while Evergy crews worked to clear the lines and restore power. Westbound traffic was directed off at Hwy. 75. Eastbound traffic had to exit onto I-470. In addition, the ramp from I-470 to I-70 was closed.

KHP said the pickup truck also caught fire, which ignited some grass. The fires were out as of 8:30 Thursday night.

KHP said Jacobsen complained of pain and was taken to Topeka’s Stormont Vail for treatment. The truck’s passenger, Caden Groves, 16, of Junction City was not hurt.

WIBW-TV was among customers impacted by the power outage. All power outages due to the wreck have now been restored.

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