Semi truck-van collision claims life of 37-year-old Tonganoxie man

Archive for Thursday, February 28, 2008

February 28, 2008, 11:06 p.m.

Updated: February 29, 2008, 12:43 a.m.

A 37-year-old Tonganoxie man died after a van and semi truck collision occurred on U.S. Highway 24-40 Thursday evening.

According to Kansas Highway Patrol reports, William Washington Jr. was killed in the accident. The wreck occurred at 7:29 p.m. at 206th Street, or County Road 25, which is less than a mile east of Tonganoxie on U.S. 24-40. Washington was driving a 1996 Ford Windstar facing north on 206th Street when he failed to yield to a semitruck driven by Ervin McKibben, 57, Mayetta, who was traveling east on U.S. 24-40. The semi struck the van on the driver's side. The airbag deployed in Washington's van during the accident. He was not wearing a seatbelt, reports said.

Kansas Department of Transportation closed a stretch of the highway and it was expected to be closed until at least midnight.

McKibben, was not injured. There were no passengers. .

For more on this story, check back to our Web site.