Semi accident shuts down US-50 bypass in Garden City

Garden City, Kan (WesternKansasNews.Com) – On August 5, 2022, at around 6:45 P.M., Officers with the Garden City Police Department, Garden City Fire Department, and Finney County EMS responded to the intersection of US Highway 50 Bypass and Schulman Avenue for a traffic accident, where a semi-truck struck a passenger car.

Upon arrival, Officers observed a Nissan Altima with extensive front and rear end damage on the northeast side of the intersection. The semi-truck was subsequently located at 3101 E. Kansas Avenue (Walmart Supercenter) and was leaking diesel fuel.

The investigation revealed that the semi-truck, driven by Aaron Ortega-Arzate (23), Garden City, KS, was headed northbound on US Highway 50 Bypass and ran the red light. The semi-truck passed through the intersection and collided with the Nissan as it traveled westbound on Schulman Avenue. The Nissan, driven by Gabriela Tamayo-Lopez (20), Garden City, KS, struck the semi-truck’s passenger side, causing a puncture in the fuel tank, then struck a light pole. Tamayo-Lopez and two passengers in the Nissan were transported to St. Catherine Hospital for treatment of injuries.

The Kansas Department of Transportation responded to the scene to apply sand to the diesel fuel on the roadway and from US Highway 50 Bypass to Walmart Supercenter. Traffic was diverted from the area for approximately three hours as crews cleaned the scene. Both vehicles were also towed from the scene due to extensive damage.

Ortega-Arzate was cited for Disobey-Traffic Control Signal and was not injured from the incident.