Topeka, KS : St. Marys woman injured in crash at Kansas Turnpike toll booth in East Topeka on Monday morning, Nov 9, 2015

A St. Marys woman was hospitalized after the pickup truck she was driving ran into the back of a flatbed semitrailer Monday morning on eastbound Interstate 70 at a Kansas Turnpike Authority toll booth in East Topeka, authorities said.

The injured woman was identified as Karen Bernier Herpak, 61.

The collision was reported about 7:35 a.m. in the eastbound center lane leading to the toll plaza, where vehicles can pick up automated tickets or go through on their electronic K-Tag.

The red Ford Ranger pickup truck that hit the back of the semi sustained heavy front-end damage. The flatbed semi that it rear-ended appeared to have no damage.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the flatbed truck was completely stopped, but it came to rest under the plaza’s overhang.

The speed limit at that the toll plaza on the Turnpike is 10 mph.

Vehicles were going to the right and left lanes of the toll plaza to proceed east on I-70 on the turnpike.

The accident was in center lane, and didn’t affect either of the other lanes.

The driver of the 2013 Kenworth semi, identified as Eric Roger Andersen, 34, of Bennett, Colo., wasn’t injured, according to turnpike officials.

It was unknown whether either driver was wearing a seat belt.

Kansas Turnpike Authority troopers, Shawnee Heights Fire District, and American Medical Response ambulance personnel were on the scene.

Source :

St. Marys woman injured in crash at Kansas Turnpike toll booth in East Topeka

Topeka, KS : St. Marys woman injured in crash at Kansas Turnpike toll booth in East Topeka on Monday morning, Nov 9, 2015