3 Vehicle Accident Shuts Down Highway 54 East of Liberal

A three vehicle accident shut down Highway 54 Tuesday afternoon. The accident occurred at approximately  1:40pm 10.3 miles east of Liberal. A 1983 GMC pick up being driven by Lyle Paul Ohlde, 72, of Saint David Arizona, was traveling eastbound on Highway 54 when the driver’s steering tire blew out. The pick up then entered the westbound lane and struck the trailer of a 2007 Freightliner semi being driven by Luis Coto, 51, of Garden City, that was traveling westbound on US 54. A 2015 Freightliner driven by Fanica Costea, 43, of Hays was traveling westbound on US 54 and made an evasive maneuver to the right trying to avoid the pick up. The rear driver’s side trailer axles of Costea semi struck the pick up and 2015 Freightliner overturned in the westbound ditch. Ohdle was taken by Life Flight Services to Wesley Medical in Wichita. The drivers of both semis were not injured. Highway 54 remained closed until the debri was removed from the roadway.