[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 56 (Thursday, March 27, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1902-S1903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  RECOGNIZING KANSAS FIRST RESPONDERS

 Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today I want to recognize the first 
responders who responded to a tragic multi-vehicle wreck on Interstate-
70 on March 14 and remember the victims of this accident.
  Kansas is well-known for its windy plains and expansive prairies, but 
these features of our State can, on occasion, create dangerous weather 
conditions. Leading up to March 14, high sustained winds coupled with 
dry conditions on the plains had created the right conditions for a 
dust storm. In the afternoon of March 14, a dust storm ripped 
unobstructed across western Kansas, leading to a sudden and deadly dust 
storm on I-70.
  The storm led to low visibility and hazardous driving conditions on 
I-70 between the two rural communities of Colby and Goodland, near the 
Colorado border. What began as a few collisions on I-70 quickly 
spiraled into a hazardous pile-up involving more than 70 vehicles, 
including several semi-trucks.
  Despite the hazardous conditions, first responders from the 
neighboring communities rushed to the site of the accident still 
battling the low visibility and dangerous conditions brought on by the 
dust storm.
  In rural communities, the police and fire forces are small and are 
often supported by volunteers. These men and women dropped what they 
were doing and put themselves at great risk to help the folks involved 
in the massive crash.
  With limited resources and hazardous conditions, the first responders 
reacted quickly and with great skill to extract folks from their 
vehicles and transport them to the closest hospitals.
  Goodland Fire Chief Brian James summed up the emergency response like 
this: ``I don't think people realize the dedication these men and women 
give to make this community safe and secure. We had to think outside 
the box to get patients transported to hospitals in Goodland and Colby 
by using our fire department support vehicle with EMTs in the back to 
using patrol vehicles from Goodland Police Department, Sherman County 
Sheriff's Office and Kansas Highway Patrol. I'm sorry for the lives 
lost in this incident, but I'm grateful for the ones we could save.''
  Emergency crews poured in from neighboring counties doing everything 
they could to help. This included firefighters, EMTs, police, highway 
patrol officers, sheriffs and dispatchers from the Goodland Fire 
Department, Brewster Fire Department, Northwest Kansas Ambulance 
Service, Colby Fire Department, Goodland Police Department, Sherman 
County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Game Warden 
W300, Thomas County EMS, Wallace County EMS, Cheyenne County EMS, and 
Sherman County Dispatch.
  These men and women put themselves at great risk to respond to this 
accident; and I have no doubt that their efforts saved many lives. I 
want to thank all the first responders for their service to the Kansans 
and travelers who they assisted on I-70.

[[Page S1903]]

  I also want to thank the hospitals who received and treated the 
victims from the crash. Rural hospitals have small staffs and limited 
resources, but the medical centers in northwest Kansas did an 
outstanding job treating and transporting those who were injured.
  Citizens Medical Center in Colby treated 30 patients and transported 
5 who needed additional care. Goodland Regional Medical Center treated 
26 patients and transported 3 who needed additional care. Thank you to 
the nurses, doctors, and hospital staff who worked through the night 
and into the weekend treating patients and sending them safely on their 
way.
  I also want to express my gratitude to the Kansas Highway Patrol 
whose work continued through the evening, and into the weekend, 
clearing the interstate so it could be re-opened.
  This tragic accident led to the deaths of eight people. My heart goes 
out to the families who lost a loved one in this tragedy on I-70. 
Losing a loved one is painful, especially in sudden tragic 
circumstances. It is times like this that communities pull together, 
and we remember how blessed we are to have neighbors and strangers who 
are willing to risk their lives to help others.
  I hope everyone uses this tragic accident as a reminder to hold your 
loved ones a little closer and thank the men and women who put their 
own lives at risk for the sake of others.
  Stay safe and may God bless.

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