LAWRENCE, Kan. — A devastating crash late Friday night on the South Lawrence Trafficway (K-10/US-40) claimed the life of one man and left another seriously injured, according to officials with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP).
Authorities say the collision occurred around 10:40 p.m. near the stretch between West 27th Street and Iowa Street, prompting an immediate closure of the highway in both directions. Emergency responders, including firefighters, paramedics, and deputies, rushed to the scene and worked through the night to assist the victims and secure the area. Around 11:35 p.m., KHP assumed control of the investigation.
Preliminary findings indicate that 21-year-old Eliseo Munoz, of Lawrence, was driving westbound in a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe when he crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 2019 Kia Forte driven eastbound by 41-year-old Michael Dieker, of Kansas City. The impact caused extensive damage to both vehicles, scattering debris across the roadway.
Dieker sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by responding medics. Munoz was transported to a nearby hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Officials confirmed that both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
The trafficway remained closed for several hours as law enforcement officers conducted crash reconstruction and cleanup. The highway was reopened shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, allowing traffic to resume after the completion of the initial investigation. Authorities have not yet determined whether impairment or distraction played a role in the deadly crash.
This heartbreaking loss has left the Lawrence and Kansas City communities mourning the sudden death of Michael Dieker, remembered by family and friends as a devoted and kind-hearted individual. As investigators continue to piece together the circumstances, officials are urging drivers to remain alert and cautious — a sobering reminder of how quickly lives can change on the road.