An accident in Salina on January 11, 2016 around 7:30 in the morning killed one man, according to Highway Patrol troopers. The accident was between a 2008 Chevy pickup truck and a semi truck on I-35 near the Crawford Street exit.
A 39-year-old Salina resident was killed in the accident. The roads were icy, according to troopers, and there were several other crashes with injuries on that highway and on nearby I-70. The driver of the semi was also injured. The Highway Patrol Critical Accident Response Team was at the scene.
Black ice apparently covered the roads at the time of the accident. This is a type of ice that forms when the air is at 32°F or below and exhaust from cars freezes on the road surface, or if precipitation is falling. The ice is not literally black, but is transparent and difficult to see, especially on dark road surfaces. When ambient air temperatures are below freezing, drivers must be especially vigilant and cautious on the roadways.
Crashes between passenger vehicles and semi tractor trailer trucks, which are usually 20 to 30 times heavier, are usually serious. These trucks are heavily regulated by federal laws, and must be properly maintained so everything is in working order. The drivers of these vehicles need specialized training and licensing, especially since their stopping distance is so much longer than a passenger car or truck.
We do not know the details of this accident yet. Factors could include the speed of the vehicles at the time of the accident, whether the vehicles were properly maintained, and if inattentive driving may have played a role, as well as conditions at the time of the crash.
