U.S. Highway 24-40 reopens after accident

Emergency workers remove the lumber from a lumber truck to clear a path for Leavenworth County EMS to move the truck's driver to an awaiting LifeStar helicopter. The accident occurred around 4:13 p.m. at U.S. Highway 24-40 and County Road 1.

? One man suffered severe injuries after his semitrailer overturned at the intersection of U.S. Highway 24-40 and Leavenworth County Road 1 Monday afternoon. The road was closed after the wreck but reopened Monday evening.

The man, who was not identified pending notification of his family, was transported to Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Officers on the scene said he was breathing and responsive, though badly injured.

The Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office said the truck, which was hauling lumber, overturned at 4:13 p.m., spilling lumber across the road. The driver was found pinned in the passenger side of the cab. A Tonganoxie emergency response team extricated him from the 38-foot truck.

“It is unknown why the individual left the roadway, but we have been able to determine that he left the east side of 24-40 Highway,” Leavenworth County Sheriff Sgt. Mark Metcalf said. “As he tried to get back onto 24-40 Highway he lost control, overturned and was trapped inside the cab.”

A LifeStar helicopter was dispatched to the scene, but was unable to take off because of mechanical problems. A ground ambulance was used instead to take the driver to KU Hospital.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Monday’s wreck was the second in as many days at the same intersection. About 6:30 p.m. Sunday, a semitrailer overturned there. No more information was available Monday regarding the cause of the accident or the condition of the driver.