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CNN Live Sunday
Rain Abates As Search Crews Look For Missing Persons Along Kansas Turnpike
Aired August 31, 2003 - 18:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: A search is still underway for people who are still missing after flash flooding washed their vehicles off a highway in southeast Kansas. The bodies of four children, all members of the same family, have already been recovered after their minivan was swept away.
On the phone from Wichita is Michael Johnston who is president and CEO of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
So Mr. Johnston, what is the current situation on the ground there in Kansas?
MICHAEL JOHNSTON (via telephone): Well Andrea, we are continuing our search about 65 miles north and east of Wichita on I-35, which is part of the Kansas Turnpike. We've got about 15-20 people and a number of dogs that are continuing to search for the two people that we have missing.
In addition to Kansas highway patrol, a helicopter is assisting them in the search and we're just going to press on as long as daylight let's us do so and we hope we find something positive or hopeful.
KOPPEL: I'm sure you do, and what about the current flooding situation on the ground? Are the rains still coming down as heavily as they were?
JOHNSTON: Actually, the rain has almost abated. It's moved north and east throughout the day. So the area where we had the flood last night, it is not raining now. If it is, it's very light. So that will part of the problem is behind us, but we've had just a very unusual and tragic occurrence that is unprecedented in our history.
KOPPEL: What is the road situation on the ground? Folks I'm sure are out driving, they may or may not be for the holiday weekend. How are the highways looking, and the various byways and what not?
JOHNSTON: Well, we're in pretty good shape now that the rain has abated. In the area where we had this flash flood and the damage to the roadway, we have traffic pinched down to one lane in each direction but people are getting through fine.
So from that part of our business, there's not a problem. We're just trying to focus on the most important thing and that's the search for these two missing people. KOPPEL: I'm sure it is, and again just in terms of what kind of work lies ahead, what kind of damage was done in the wake of these flash floods?
JOHNSTON: Well, we had a wall of water, according to witnesses, that may have been bye-bye six feat feet high that went over the roadway for a period of about 200 to 300 feet.
So we have damage to the pavement in all of the driving lanes that will be repaired this week. We've got substantial amount of the shoulder that is just literally been stripped away. The force of the flood water hurled 10,000 pound barriers like toothpicks into this creek.
So it was a very powerful event of nature and you know, sometimes in spite of all that we do, nature is very difficult to deal with.
KOPPEL: Well, listen, Michael Johnston, we wish you all the best of luck trying to find those two folks still missing in Kansas. Thank you so much for joining us.
JOHNSTON: Andrea, thank you. It's good to talk to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Kansas Turnpike>
Aired August 31, 2003 - 18:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: A search is still underway for people who are still missing after flash flooding washed their vehicles off a highway in southeast Kansas. The bodies of four children, all members of the same family, have already been recovered after their minivan was swept away.
On the phone from Wichita is Michael Johnston who is president and CEO of the Kansas Turnpike Authority.
So Mr. Johnston, what is the current situation on the ground there in Kansas?
MICHAEL JOHNSTON (via telephone): Well Andrea, we are continuing our search about 65 miles north and east of Wichita on I-35, which is part of the Kansas Turnpike. We've got about 15-20 people and a number of dogs that are continuing to search for the two people that we have missing.
In addition to Kansas highway patrol, a helicopter is assisting them in the search and we're just going to press on as long as daylight let's us do so and we hope we find something positive or hopeful.
KOPPEL: I'm sure you do, and what about the current flooding situation on the ground? Are the rains still coming down as heavily as they were?
JOHNSTON: Actually, the rain has almost abated. It's moved north and east throughout the day. So the area where we had the flood last night, it is not raining now. If it is, it's very light. So that will part of the problem is behind us, but we've had just a very unusual and tragic occurrence that is unprecedented in our history.
KOPPEL: What is the road situation on the ground? Folks I'm sure are out driving, they may or may not be for the holiday weekend. How are the highways looking, and the various byways and what not?
JOHNSTON: Well, we're in pretty good shape now that the rain has abated. In the area where we had this flash flood and the damage to the roadway, we have traffic pinched down to one lane in each direction but people are getting through fine.
So from that part of our business, there's not a problem. We're just trying to focus on the most important thing and that's the search for these two missing people. KOPPEL: I'm sure it is, and again just in terms of what kind of work lies ahead, what kind of damage was done in the wake of these flash floods?
JOHNSTON: Well, we had a wall of water, according to witnesses, that may have been bye-bye six feat feet high that went over the roadway for a period of about 200 to 300 feet.
So we have damage to the pavement in all of the driving lanes that will be repaired this week. We've got substantial amount of the shoulder that is just literally been stripped away. The force of the flood water hurled 10,000 pound barriers like toothpicks into this creek.
So it was a very powerful event of nature and you know, sometimes in spite of all that we do, nature is very difficult to deal with.
KOPPEL: Well, listen, Michael Johnston, we wish you all the best of luck trying to find those two folks still missing in Kansas. Thank you so much for joining us.
JOHNSTON: Andrea, thank you. It's good to talk to you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Kansas Turnpike>
