WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Quick action by law enforcement prevented a tragedy early Wednesday in Wabaunsee County.
Just after 4a.m., Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Deputies were assisting a westbound motorist on Interstate 70 just west of Snokomo Road, according to the Sheriff's Department.
The deputies suddenly heard squealing tires. Multiple vehicles including semi trucks were desperately maneuvering to avoid a collision with a sedan traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of the highway towards oncoming traffic.
Sheriff's deputies activated lights and sirens, crossed the median ahead of the wrong way driver and moved toward the oncoming sedan. Prior to performing an intentional collision to force the suspect vehicle off the highway, the wrong way vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway.
Verbal commands via loudspeaker for the driver to pull into the median were ignored. Among passing traffic, deputies sprinted at, entered the vehicle, subdued the driver and forcibly drove the vehicle into the median in order to clear the roadway.
The driver was detained and after a brief investigation, released from custody and transported from scene to hospital for evaluation after being cited.
There were no injuries reported.