Crash closes highway

No one hurt in truck, semitrailer crash

A crash involving a pickup truck and a semitrailer carrying chicken feed closed the northbound lanes of Kansas Highway 81 in Ottawa County for several hours Wednesday.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash involved a 1995 Freightliner driven by Jonathan Nichols, 26, and a 2007 Chevrolet pickup driven by Riley D. Tibbits, 86. Their addresses were not available.

The crash occurred around 10 a.m. The passing lane was opened shortly after noon; the other lane was opened just before 3 p.m.

There were no injuries.

No other information was available Wednesday evening.

California man sentenced for drugs

TOPEKA -- Alonso Ayon Corrales, 36, of Modesto, Calif., has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said Wednesday.

In May, a federal jury in Topeka found Corrales guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Corrales was arrested July 20, 2005, on Interstate Highway 70 in Russell County. A Russell County sheriff's deputy pulled over a 2000 Honda Accord traveling westbound on I-70. A search of the vehicle turned up more than 35 pounds of powder cocaine. The drugs were found in 20 packages in a hidden compartment under the windshield wipers.

Truck hits semitrailer during thunderstorm

ELLSWORTH -- A Denton, Texas, man was taken to Ellsworth County Medical Center after his pickup truck crossed the center line during a thunderstorm Tuesday and side-swiped a semitrailer.

David L. Helvey, 51, was hospitalized overnight and dismissed Wednesday, according to a hospital spokesman.

According to a Kansas Highway Patrol report, Helvey was driving southwest on Kansas Highway 156 at 10:43 p.m., less than a mile south of Interstate Highway 70, when his vehicle crossed the center line. His truck sideswiped the trailer of a semi driven by Wayne E. Jones, 50, of South Sioux City, Neb., entered the ditch and struck a tree.

The semitrailer rolled to a stop on the shoulder, the report said. Jones was not injured. Both men were wearing seat belts, according to the report.

KDOT warning motorists to stay right

Signs have been erected along Interstate Highway 70 in western Kansas, alerting motorists to a new Kansas law requiring them to avoid driving in the left lane except when absolutely necessary.

Kansas Department of Transportation crews recently placed a series of road signs warning drivers to "keep right except to pass" in nine locations at key points along I-70. The signs were placed near the Colorado border and outside Colby, WaKeeney, Hays and Russell.

The so-called Right Lane Law restricts driving in the left lane of all Kansas highways with two or more lanes of traffic in the same direction, except for the stretches of such roads that are within city limits.

Exceptions include moving over while passing another vehicle, preparing to make a proper left turn or because it is directed by official traffic-control devices or required by other provisions of law.

For the first year, law enforcement officers will issue warnings to violators.

Pickup hits county truck from behind

Two men were taken to Salina Regional Health Center Tuesday after a pickup truck crashed into a truck owned by Saline County.

Sheriff Glen Kochanowski said Brandon Jones, 24, of 515 W. Iron, was driving the county truck west on Shipton Road at 3:45 p.m. and was slowing to stop at the Halstead Road intersection. The truck was struck from behind by a westbound pickup driven by Wilbert Owen, 57, of Tescott.

A hospital spokeswoman said Jones was treated in the emergency department. Owen was in fair condition Wednesday.

Alcohol use might have been a factor in the crash, Kochanowski said.

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