A fatal crash early Saturday morning in downtown Topeka, Kansas, claimed the life of 33-year-old Tramayne N. Smith. The incident occurred on the Polk-Quincy Viaduct, a section of Interstate 70, around 1:29 a.m. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash.
According to officials, Smith was driving when his vehicle veered off the overpass near the 2nd and S. Kansas Avenue area. The Polk-Quincy Viaduct, which carries traffic over downtown Topeka, was under construction at the time of the incident. Investigators revealed that Smith’s vehicle was traveling on a section of I-70 that had been closed due to ongoing construction work. At the time, the viaduct was not fully open to traffic, and Smith’s vehicle was the only one involved in the crash.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but despite their efforts, Smith was pronounced dead at the location. Authorities have not yet disclosed specific details about the direction Smith was traveling or the exact circumstances surrounding the crash. No other vehicles were reported to be in the area at the time, confirming that this was a single-vehicle accident.
The crash occurred in a roadwork zone, which has raised concerns about the safety of construction areas on highways. As the investigation continues, authorities are reviewing factors such as road conditions, possible distractions, or other circumstances that could have contributed to the crash.
Local authorities have confirmed that the investigation into the incident is ongoing, with updates expected as more information becomes available. At this stage, no further details about the cause of the crash have been disclosed.