High Winds,Blowing Dirt Cause 12 Car Pile Up

At around 1:40PM on Sunday, Seward County EMS Fire Rescue and Tyrone Fire Rescue along with Hooker Fire & EMS were called to a multiple vehicle accident one mile east of Tyrone, about 9 miles SW of Liberal on Highway 54. Units were told that as many as six vehicles were involved at the time of the page and at least 12 vehicles are known to have been involved in the accident. There were no fatalities in the accident, one victim was extricated from a vehicle as well as four horses from a horse trailer. The extrication victim is believed to be fine at this time, all other victims suffered minor injuries or no injuries. One horse had a minor injury and the other three appeared to be fine.

Blowing dust and severe winds kept visibility to five feet at times while area responders worked to clear the accident. The Highway reopened some four hours after being called in. Ten fire units and four ambulances responded to the accident along with numerous law enforcement units.