The Geary County Sheriff’s Office has released more details about a wrong-way crash on I 70 that killed two people.

According to the agency, on Wednesday at approximately 4:08 p.m., the Junction City Police Department Communications Center dispatch received a report from the Riley County Police Department Communications Center of an erratic driver in a red Ford F- 150 traveling on the Kansas Highway 18 Bypass. Riley County Dispatch advised that the vehicle had struck approximately five to six other vehicles while continuing into Geary County. Additional callers reported that the vehicle was being operated erratically, causing other motorists to maintain their distance, and appeared to be emitting smoke.

At approximately 4:11 p.m., Dispatch advised deputies over the Sheriff’s Office radio channel of the complaint, reporting that the vehicle was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 near mile marker 303. Deputies requested clarification regarding whether additional complaints had been received. Dispatch initially advised that only one report had been received from Riley County but subsequently indicated that additional calls concerning the vehicle were being received.

At approximately 4:14 p.m., a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks law enforcement officer, who had been monitoring the radio traffic, advised that the reported collisions appeared to have occurred in Riley County. The officer further reported observing the vehicle traveling westbound past mile marker 300, with other traffic following behind it.

At approximately 4:15 p.m., Geary County Sheriff’s deputies observed the red Ford F-150 traveling westbound on Interstate 70 as they entered the interstate using the westbound on-ramp at mile marker 299. Deputies activated their emergency lights and sirens and attempted to catch up to the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. Deputies caught up to the vehicle when it slowed to exit Interstate 70 at Exit 296 (S. Washington Street).

Upon exiting the interstate, the driver traveled through the grass median of the roundabout on S. Washington Street. The driver continued southbound around the roundabout before turning east and entering the westbound Interstate 70 off-ramp, traveling in the wrong direction. Deputies did not follow the vehicle and drove southbound on Washington Street and utilized the eastbound Interstate 70 on-ramp to regain visual of the vehicle. Upon entering the interstate, deputies observed the vehicle had been involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70.

Deputies immediately approached both vehicles and attempted to render lifesaving aid. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The Kansas Highway Patrol is responsible for investigating the fatality crash.

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ORIGINAL: Two people were killed in wrong way crash along Interstate 70 caused by a vehicle fleeing law enforcement.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Geary County Sheriff’s Office was in pursuit of Ford F150 pickup headed west on I 70 Wednesday afternoon. The truck exited, and then re-entered I-70 headed west, traveling the wrong way in the eastbound lanes. It collided head on with an oncoming Cadillac SUV.

The driver of the truck, 41-year-old  Seth Moreland from Caney, was killed in the crash. The driver of the SUV, 62-year-old Diane Lister from Chapman, was also killed.

The crash happened at 2:17 Wednesday afternoon along I 70 in Geary County at milepost 296.9,  just east of the Washington Street exit to Junction City.