GEARY COUNTY—The Geary County Sheriff's office released new details on the fatal wrong-way, head-on crash that took the lives of two people on Interstate 70 on Wednesday.
Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, the Riley County Police Department contacted the Junction City Police Department about an erratic driver in a red Ford F150 traveling on the Kansas Highway 18 Bypass. According to the RCPD, the pickup had struck five or six other vehicles while continuing into Geary County. Other callers also reported the Ford F150 was being operated erratically, causing other motorists to maintain their distance. Callers also said the pickup also appeared to be emitting smoke.
At 4:11p.m., the Junction City Police Department dispatch advised sheriff's deputies of the complaint and reported the pickup was westbound on Interstate 70 near mile marker 303.
At 4:14p.m. A Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks law enforcement officer, who had been monitoring the the radio traffic, advised that the reported the earlier collisions appeared to have occurred in Riley County. The KDWP officer also reported observing the pickup traveling westbound past mile marker 300 with other traffic behind it.
At 4:15p.m., Geary County Sheriff's deputies observed the red Ford F150 traveling westbound on Interstate 70 as they entered the Interstate using the westbound on ramp and mile marker 299. Deputies activated their emergency lights and sirens in attempt to catch up with the pickup and initiate a traffic stop. Deputies did catch up with the pickup when it slowed to exit the Interstate at exit 296/South Washington Street.
Upon exiting the Interstate, the driver, later identified as Seth A Moreland, 41, Caney, traveled through the grass median of the roundabout on South Washington Street and continued around the roundabout before turning east and entering the westbound Interstate 70 off ramp, traveling in the wrong direction. Deputies did not follow the pickup and drove southbound on Washington Street and utilized east Interstate 70 on ramp to regain visual of the pickup. Upon entering the Interstate, deputies saw the pickup had been involved in a head-on collision with a Cadillac SUV in the westbound lanes of the Interstate.
Deputies immediately approached both vehicles and attempted to render lifesaving aid. Both driver including Diane M. Lister, 62, Chapman, were pronounced dead at the scene. The Kansas Highway Patrol is in charge of investigating the crash.