Fire Causes Accident, Property Damage

A grass fire on Interstate 70 Monday evening causes a wreck and property damage.

No serious injuries were reported after a semi collided with another semi trailer eastbound on Interstate at 3:45 p.m.

According to Sheriff Glen Kochanowski, Gary Kats, 64, of Norton, Kansas was driving with a trailer full of hay east on I-70 near mile marker 236 when smoke and flames from a nearby grass fire obstructed his view of another semi driven by Dharmender Singh, 48, of Brampton, Mississippi.

Singh was slowing down due to the smoke when Kats collided with him. His trailer was empty.

Kats suffered a minor scratch to his leg, but refused treatment.

All indications are the fire was started by a nearby train, but investigators are still looking into the cause.

The fire also damaged three sheds in the 3000 block of N. Mcgavern Rd.

The land owned by Michael Kopf, 45, of Wichita was home to various items such as a 4-wheeler, canoe and lawn mower which were lost in the fire.

As of Tuesday morning no loss estimate was available.