High Winds Contribute to Two Injury Crashes on Interstate 70 in Western Kansas

Picture from Trego County Sheriff's Office Facebook page posted 3/15/26

Strong winds across western Kansas on Sunday, March 15 led to two separate injury crashes on Interstate 70, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log.

A High Wind Warning was in effect across much of the region Sunday as powerful northwest winds moved through the area. Wind speeds in Northwest Kansas averaged around 27.7 mph, with sustained winds reaching 48 mph and gusts reported as high as 67 mph around the Goodland, KS area according to US National Weather Service in Goodland. Weather officials warned that winds of this magnitude could create hazardous driving conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles such as semis, campers, and vehicles pulling trailers.

First Crash – Gove County

The first crash occurred Sunday at approximately 1:30 p.m. on I-70 eastbound near milepost 87, about 1.1 miles east of K-216 in Gove County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2022 Chevy Silverado pulling a trailer was traveling eastbound when strong winds caused the trailer to begin rolling over. The driver attempted to correct the situation, but the trailer broke loose from the pickup. During the corrective maneuver, both the pickup and trailer spun, sending the vehicle into the median where it rolled. The trailer came to rest in the driving lane.

The driver, Stephen Blackwell, 78, of Cortez, Colorado, was transported to Logan County Health Center with suspected minor injuries.

A passenger, Melba Blackwell, 77, also of Cortez, Colorado, was transported to the same hospital with suspected serious injuries. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Second Crash – Trego County

Just over 30 minutes later, another crash was reported further west on Interstate 70.

At approximately 2:05 p.m., a 2022 Freightliner semi traveling westbound near milepost 120.8, about one mile east of Voda Road in Trego County, lost control due to the high winds.

According to the crash report, the semi spun clockwise and overturned, eventually coming to rest on its driver’s side.

The driver, Reynol Garcia, 48, of Kansas City, Missouri, was transported to Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital with suspected minor injuries.

Windy Conditions Across Western Kansas

Sunday’s powerful winds were part of a larger storm system moving across the Plains and Midwest that produced damaging wind gusts and hazardous travel conditions across several states.

Officials say conditions like those seen Sunday can be especially dangerous for semi-trucks, trailers, RVs, and other high-profile vehicles, which can be pushed or overturned by strong gusts on open highways such as Interstate 70.

Despite the strong winds and crashes reported in western Kansas, no road closures were reported on Interstate 70 during the incidents.

Motorists are always encouraged to slow down, keep both hands on the wheel, and use extra caution during high wind events, especially when traveling through open areas of western Kansas where wind gusts can be strongest.