26-year-old Topeka man killed in early-morning crash on I-70 west of Lawrence

Updated at 10:15 a.m. Friday, June 21

A Topeka man was killed in a crash Friday morning after being ejected from his vehicle on I-70 west of Lawrence.

Nash McKnight, 26, died in the accident. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash report, McKnight was driving west around 2:20 a.m. near mile marker 190 in a 2024 Kia Optima when he failed to maintain his lane and sideswiped a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by a 20-year-old man from Olathe.

The Mercury was pushed to the left into a barrier wall while McKnight’s vehicle overturned and went off the roadway and ejected the driver before the vehicle struck a rock wall, according to the crash report. McKnight was not wearing a seat belt, the report said.

The driver of the Mercury, who was wearing a seat belt, suffered no apparent injuries, according to KHP.