Raging Winds Blow Trucks Off Kan. Highway
Pastor Dale Morgan
Raging Winds Blow Trucks Off Kan. Highway*
Thursday August 3, 2006 4:31 AM
WILSON, Kan. (AP) - Powerful storms slammed central Kansas with winds up
to 100 mph Wednesday, downing trees, snapping utility poles and sweeping
several vehicles off Interstate 70, authorities said.
At least three tractor-trailers and other vehicles were swept off the
interstate when the violent straight-line winds hit during the
afternoon, authorities said.
A rig carrying hazardous material was also knocked over, said Lt. John
Eichkorn, spokesman for the Kansas Highway Patrol.
He said the driver may have been injured, but it appeared the unknown
hazardous material did not leak from the truck.
A few miles southeast of Gorham, two oil tanks were struck by lightning
and caught fire, a Russell County dispatcher said.
There also were numerous reports of downed tree limbs and snapped power
poles in and around the city of Russell.