Nearly two dozen students were moved to safety Tuesday afternoon after their school bus became disabled on Interstate 70 in Wabaunsee County during extreme heat.

The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified at about 3:31 p.m. of an occupied school bus that had broken down near mile marker 332 in the westbound lanes of I-70. The bus had 24 students aboard and no air conditioning, with temperatures around 110 degrees.

Deputies responded to the scene, while Wabaunsee County Clerk Abby Amick coordinated two transportation vans to help get the students off the bus and out of the heat. Some students were temporarily sheltered in patrol vehicles while replacement transportation was arranged.

A replacement bus later arrived and all 24 students were transferred. The sheriff’s office said everyone was doing well.

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A 33-year-old Alta Vista man was arrested following a search that authorities say uncovered suspected fentanyl, synthetic stimulants, firearms and a motorcycle believed to have been stolen.

The Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies and Kansas Department of Corrections special agents conducted a search Aug. 27 at Gabriel Nurl Burch’s residence in the 800 block of Park Street in Alta Vista. Authorities said the investigation began after receiving information about suspected drug activity at the residence.

During the search, authorities reported finding suspected fentanyl and synthetic stimulants commonly known as bath salts, drug paraphernalia and items associated with the weighing, packaging and distribution of narcotics. Multiple firearms were also recovered, including a sawed-off shotgun.

Authorities also located a motorcycle believed to have been stolen about 10 years ago in Sedgwick County.

Burch faces multiple allegations, including possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a public nuisance, distribution or possession with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a school, criminal use of weapons, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of stolen property.

The sheriff’s office said Burch was convicted of aggravated battery and kidnapping in Riley County in 2017. He was paroled in November 2025 but returned to prison after violating his parole. Burch was released again in March and designated by KDOC as a high-risk violent offender, placed on GPS monitoring and prohibited from entering Riley County.

Burch was being held in the Wabaunsee County Jail without bond.

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Two people were arrested early Monday after Wabaunsee County authorities reported finding about two ounces of suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70.

According to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy stopped a vehicle at about 12:29 a.m. near mile marker 327 after observing it traveling about 78 mph in a 60 mph construction zone, failing to signal and operating with defective equipment.

The sheriff’s office said deputies, assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, searched the vehicle and found about two ounces of suspected cocaine, items authorities said are commonly associated with drug distribution and a firearm.

The driver, 20-year-old Lilly Drew of McCracken, and passenger, 24-year-old Isaias Mendoza Ramirez of Kansas City, Missouri, were arrested and booked into the Wabaunsee County Jail. Both face allegations including possession and distribution of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to have a drug tax stamp. Ramirez also faces an allegation of criminal possession of a firearm, while Drew faces several traffic allegations.

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Two people were arrested early Monday after Wabaunsee County authorities reported finding about two ounces of suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70.

According to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy stopped a vehicle at about 12:29 a.m. near mile marker 327 after observing it traveling about 78 mph in a 60 mph construction zone, failing to signal and operating with defective equipment.

The sheriff’s office said deputies, assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, searched the vehicle and found about two ounces of suspected cocaine, items authorities said are commonly associated with drug distribution and a firearm.

The driver, 20-year-old Lilly Drew of McCracken, and passenger, 24-year-old Isaias Mendoza Ramirez of Kansas City, Missouri, were arrested and booked into the Wabaunsee County Jail. Both face allegations including possession and distribution of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to have a drug tax stamp. Ramirez also faces an allegation of criminal possession of a firearm, while Drew faces several traffic allegations.

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A Maple Hill man died Friday afternoon after an all-terrain vehicle overturned on his property in Wabaunsee County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The crash happened around 4:50 p.m. at 20246 Kansas Road near Maple Hill.

Troopers said 69-year-old Paul H. Schweir was spraying weeds while driving a 2023 Honda ATV northbound on his property when he drove off the east edge of a driveway and into a ditch. The ATV rolled over, trapping Schweir underneath.

Schweir was pronounced dead at the scene. The highway patrol reported he was not wearing a helmet or eye protection at the time of the crash.

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A Colorado man died Wednesday afternoon after his SUV left I-70 and rolled into a creek in Wabaunsee County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred just before 5 p.m. June 24 on westbound I-70 about a half-mile west of Vera Road. Troopers said a 2025 Toyota RAV4 was traveling westbound when, for an unknown reason, it left the roadway, crossed the median, traveled down an embankment and rolled into a creek, where it came to rest submerged in water.

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A Newton man suffered serious injuries Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash in rural Wabaunsee County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:35 p.m. June 13 on Old K-4, about 0.8 miles west of Chalk Road.

Troopers said Michael Ray Rohr, 65, of Newton, was traveling westbound on a 2024 KTM 500 EXC-F motorcycle when, for an unknown reason, he lost control of the vehicle. Investigators reported the motorcycle and rider became separated as they entered the north ditch before both came to rest there.

Rohr sustained suspected serious injuries and was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital for treatment. The crash report indicates he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

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A Newton man suffered serious injuries Saturday afternoon in a motorcycle crash in rural Wabaunsee County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:35 p.m. June 13 on Old K-4, about 0.8 miles west of Chalk Road.

Troopers said Michael Ray Rohr, 65, of Newton, was traveling westbound on a 2024 KTM 500 EXC-F motorcycle when, for an unknown reason, he lost control of the vehicle. Investigators reported the motorcycle and rider became separated as they entered the north ditch before both came to rest there.

Rohr sustained suspected serious injuries and was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital for treatment. The crash report indicates he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

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Two people were killed and a child was seriously injured Friday afternoon in a head-on crash on I-70 in Wabaunsee County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:47 p.m. June 5 on westbound I-70 near mile marker 330, about 1 mile west of Spring Creek Road. Investigators said a 2024 Kenworth construction truck was traveling eastbound when, for an unknown reason, it crossed the median into the westbound lanes and collided with a 2020 Buick Envision traveling in the right lane.

The driver of the Buick, 70-year-old Barbara Krier of Great Bend, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead. A passenger, 50-year-old Steven Reed of Topeka, also died from injuries sustained in the crash.

A 7-year-old passenger in the Buick, suffered suspected serious injuries and was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City for treatment.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that both adults in the Buick and the truck driver were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

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Drivers may want to avoid construction near the Interstate 70 and Kansas Highway 99 interchange next week.

The Kansas Department of Transportation will begin a bridge repair project on westbound I-70 in Wabaunsee County on Monday. The project includes deck patching, concrete surface repairs and overlay on the structure over Pretty Creek just east of the K-99 interchange.

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