By Matt Campbell
Kansas City Star
RUSSELL COUNTY, Kan. — A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper had a close brush with a semitrailer on Sunday morning when the driver of the truck lost control in slick conditions and crossed the median into his path.
Trooper Bill Poland, a 30-year veteran of the patrol, was able to steer his car onto the shoulder to avoid a collision. There were no injuries.
The incident happened about 9 a.m. as Poland was eastbound on Interstate 70 and the truck was westbound.
“He said he was prepared for the trailer to hit him,” said Tod Hileman, spokesman for Troop D of the patrol, based in Hays. “He was keeping a heavy eye on that to see if he needed to go into the ditch.”
After a collision was avoided, Poland “pulled back off the median and turned around and went back to help the guy,” Hileman said.
The Highway Patrol posted on its Facebook page that the truck was “driving too fast for conditions.”
“Please SLOW DOWN,” the message said, “and gauge the road mile by mile. Just because it’s not icy where you are does not mean it may not be icy 20 miles down the road.”
Several people commented on the video.
“Holy cow close call,” wrote one. “Slowdown.”