TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – The Kansas Highway Patrol says an armed, suicidal motorist from Michigan caused the latest shutdown on a 25-mile stretch of Interstate 70 west of Topeka.

The patrol says a 45-year-old man barricaded himself in a 32-foot motor home after a trooper stopped him around 8 a.m. Wednesday for driving erratically. The man said he was going to
kill himself. Officials closed I-70 in both directions in case of gunfire.

After trying to negotiate with the man, a patrol team broke into the RV around 3:30 p.m. The patrol says officers recovered a weapon and sent the man to a hospital with minor injuries.

The same stretch of interstate was closed for nine hours Monday after troopers stopped a man believed to have made threats at a Junction City motel. His truck was inspected for dangerous
materials, but nothing was found.

UPDATE (5:05PM): 

The Kansas Highway Patrol has reopened eastbound Interstate 70 west of Topeka following a long standoff with a man barricaded inside a recreational vehicle.

The 25-mile stretch was closed in both directions a little after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Eastbound lanes were opened shortly after the man was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. Officials expected to open westbound lines quickly.

The patrol had closed the highway to protect motorists in case of gunfire.

No details about the man were immediately released.

 

UPDATE:
Interstate still closed mid-afternoon, more detail about man in vehicle.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A 25-mile stretch of Interstate 70 west of Topeka remains closed as Kansas Highway Patrol troopers deal with an armed man barricaded inside a recreational vehicle.

 

Wednesday’s incident began with a traffic stop shortly after 8 a.m. about 15 miles west of Topeka. The patrol closed the highway in both directions to protect motorists in case of gunfire.

 

Patrol officials tell The Topeka Capital-Journal they believe the man is alone in the RV. Traffic was still being rerouted as of 2:30 p.m.

 

The same stretch of interstate was closed for nine hours Monday after troopers stopped a motorist believed to have made threats at a Junction City motel. The patrol said writings on the man’s pickup truck indicated there could be something dangerous in the vehicle. Nothing was found in the truck.
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Information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal,
https://www.cjonline.com

TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) – The same 25-mile section of Interstate 70 in Kansas that was closed for nine hours two days ago has been shut down again.

A Kansas Highway Patrol spokesman says troopers were dealing with an armed man who barricaded himself inside his vehicle after a traffic stop a little after 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Capt. Art Wilburn says the patrol closed the highway in both directions west of Topeka to protect motorists in case there is gunfire.

The same stretch of interstate was closed for nine hours Monday after troopers pulled over a man who was believed to have made threats at a Junction City motel.

KHP said writings on the man’s pickup truck indicated there could be something dangerous in the vehicle. Nothing was found in the truck.