Man taken by ambulance to hospital after Friday crash in southwest Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A man was transported to a local hospital following a two-car crash early Friday in southwest Topeka, authorities said.

The collision was reported at 5:55 a.m. Friday just south of S.W. 29th and Fairlawn. The location was just west of the off-ramp from westbound Interstate 470 to S.W. Fairlawn Road.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when a blue 2010 Honda Civic that had been sitting at a stop light at the intersection of S.W. Fairlawn and the exit ramp of westbound I-470 accelerated through the red light.

The Honda then was struck on the side by a 2013 Kia Soul that was taking the exit ramp from westbound I-470 to S.W. Fairlawn Road.

The vehicles came to rest in the westbound lanes of a road that links the 2900 block of S.W. Fairlawn and S.W. 29th Street just west of S.W. Fairlawn.

Initial reports indicated one person was possibly trapped in one of the vehicles.

The driver of the Kia, Robin Halbert, 58, of Topeka, was transported to St. Francis Hospital by American Medical Response ambulance with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. The patrol said Halbert was wearing his seat belt.

The driver of the Honda, Peggy Bertels, 67, of Topeka, was reported to have minor injuries and went to Stormont Vail Hospital by private vehicle.

The patrol said both drivers were alone in their vehicles.

The collision occurred as rain was falling in southwest Topeka.

While crews responded to the scene, southbound traffic on S.W. Fairlawn was diverted onto S.W. 29th Street.

Westbound traffic on the road that links the 2900 block of S.W. Fairlawn with S.W. 29th Street just west of Fairlawn also was shut down as crews were on the scene.

Northbound traffic in the 2900 block of S.W. Fairlawn, just south of I-470, was allowed to proceed in a single lane past the crash scene.

Meanwhile, eastbound traffic on the road that links the 2900 block of S.W. Fairlawn with S.W. 29th just west of Fairlawn also was allowed to proceed through the area.

In addition to the Kansas Highway Patrol -- which investigated the crash -- and AMR ambulance, the Topeka Police Department and the Topeka Fire Department responded to the scene.

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