KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Interstate 70 eastbound was closed at Turner Diagonal Freeway for several hours after two separate crashes, including one fatal crash, Wednesday morning.
The crashes took place around 5 a.m. on Wednesday in the area just before Interstate 635 in Kansas City, Kansas.
The initial crash took place around 4:55 a.m., when one vehicle collided with the rear end of a vehicle traveling "at a slow rate" on I-70 eastbound.
The driver of the struck vehicle died from injuries. The driver of the striking vehicle suffered minor injuries, according to Kansas Highway Patrol. The Kansas Turnpike Authority is working the fatal crash.
The highway patrol is working a second injury collision, which was caused after a vehicle was unable to slow for the initial collision, causing a chain reaction.
The driver who failed to slow has minor injuries, while the two other drivers involved in the crash sustained suspected serious injuries, according to the highway patrol.
Traffic was initially being directed off I-70 at 57th Street. Officials then began directing motorists to exit the interstate at Turner Diagonal Freeway, which is two exits west of 57th Street.
One vehicle was engulfed in flames following the crash.
The KCK Police Department initially said that there was a multi-vehicle crash on the interstate, before KHP later clarified that there were two different crashes.
I-70 eastbound reopened around 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
