Three hospitalized after four-vehicle crash in Wyandotte County

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (WIBW) - Three people were taken to area hospitals following a four-vehicle, chain-reaction crash Wednesday morning on an interstate highway in Wyandotte County, officials said.

The collision was reported at 7:37 a.m. Wednesday on southbound Interstate 435, just south of State Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol,traffic was backed up on the roadway when a 1996 Kenworth semitrailer rear-ended a 2019 Kia Optima, which then went forward and rear-ended a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, which in turn rear-ended a 2020 GMC Terrain.

All four vehicles became disabled on the highway, the patrol said.

The driver of the Kenworth semi, Robert E. Wilkinson, 61, of Otoe, Neb., was reported uninjured. The patrol said Wilkinson was wearing his seat belt.

The driver of the Kia, Hunter J. Acha, 25, of Lenexa, was transported to the University of Kansas Hospital with suspected minor injuries. The patrol said Acha was wearing his seat belt.

The driver of the Equinox, Tonja L. Thaxton, 50, of Kansas City, Kan., was reported uninjured. The patrol said Thaxton was wearing her seat belt.

A passenger in the Equinox, Michael Thaxton, 4, of Kansas City, Kan., was reported not to have any apparent injuries, but was taken by private vehicle to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. The patrol said Michael was wearing his safety restraint.

The driver of the GMC, Margaret C. Solano, 62, of Kansas City, Kan., was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital with suspected minor injuries, the patrol said. Solano was wearing her seat belt, the patrol said.

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