CO Man Blake Ronald Turner ID’d As Victim In Wednesday KS Fatal Submersion Crash

WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KS. (THECOUNT) — Blake Ronald Turner, of Aurora, Colorado, was killed Wednesday evening after the vehicle he was driving overturned and became submerged in a creek in Wabaunsee County, located in northeastern Kansas west of Topeka. No other vehicles or occupants were involved in the fatal crash.

Turner was 79.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the fatal single-vehicle crash was reported at approximately 4:59 p.m. on Interstate 70 just east of the city of Paxico.

A preliminary investigation determined Turner was traveling westbound in a 2025 Toyota RAV4 when, for reasons that remain under investigation, the SUV suddenly left the roadway to the left.

Authorities said the vehicle crossed the grassy center median before traveling down an embankment.

The SUV then overturned multiple times before coming to rest upside down in a creek, where it became partially submerged in water.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and attempted to reach the submerged vehicle, however Turner was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.

The Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed Turner was the only occupant of the Toyota. No passengers were inside the vehicle, and no other motorists or vehicles were involved in the incident.

Investigators have not determined why the SUV left the interstate, and no contributing factors have been publicly identified. Authorities have not indicated whether weather, mechanical issues, or a medical emergency played any role in the collision.

Interstate 70 is one of the nation’s busiest east-west highways, stretching from Utah to Maryland and serving as a major transportation corridor across Kansas. The section through Wabaunsee County carries thousands of commercial and passenger vehicles daily as travelers move between Topeka, Junction City, Salina, and other communities across the state.

Wabaunsee County is located in northeastern Kansas, approximately 30 miles west of Topeka and about 80 miles west of Kansas City. The rural county includes the city of Paxico, a small Flint Hills community situated along Interstate 70 that serves both local residents and cross-country travelers.

Fatal crashes involving vehicles leaving the roadway remain among the leading causes of traffic deaths nationwide. Safety officials routinely encourage motorists to remain alert, avoid distractions, obey posted speed limits, and stop immediately if fatigue becomes a concern while traveling long distances.

The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s fatal crash. Additional information, including the findings of the ongoing investigation, is expected to be released as it becomes available.

Crash location: Google Maps

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