10/15/2026
(UPDATE) TWO KILLED, INCLUDING ONE FROM CANEY, IN HEAD-ON COLLISION ON I-70 IN GEARY COUNTY
JUNCTION CITY — The Geary County Sheriff’s Department has released more details of a two-vehicle, head-on wreck on I-70 that claimed the lives of two drivers, one of whom is from Caney, on Wednesday.
The sheriff’s department report comes after the preliminary crash report was released by the Kansas Highway Patrol. In the KHP report, Seth A. Moreland of Caney was killed while in pursuit by the Geary County Sheriff’s Department. Moreland had exited and re-entered I-70 by going into the opposite direction of traffic and striking a vehicle driven by Diane Lister, age 62, of Chapman, Kan. Both Lister and Moreland were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision.
Shown below is the entirety of the Geary County Sheriff’s Department report:
On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at approximately 4:08 p.m., the Junction City Police Department Communications Center (Dispatch) received a report from the Riley County Police Department Communications Center of an erratic driver in a red Ford F-150 traveling on the Kansas Highway 18 Bypass. Riley County Dispatch advised that the vehicle had reportedly struck approximately five to six other vehicles while continuing into Geary County. Additional callers reported that the vehicle was being operated erratically, causing other motorists to maintain their distance, and appeared to be emitting smoke.
At approximately 4:11 p.m., Dispatch advised deputies over the Sheriff's Office radio channel of the complaint, reporting that the vehicle was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 near mile marker 303. Deputies requested clarification regarding whether additional complaints had been received. Dispatch initially advised that only one report had been received from Riley County but subsequently indicated that additional calls concerning the vehicle were being received.
At approximately 4:14 p.m., a Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks law enforcement officer, who had been monitoring the radio traffic, advised that the reported collisions appeared to have occurred in Riley County. The officer further reported observing the vehicle traveling westbound past mile marker 300, with other traffic following behind it.
At approximately 4:15 p.m., Geary County Sheriff's deputies observed the red Ford F-150 traveling westbound on Interstate 70 as they entered the interstate using the westbound on-ramp at mile marker 299. Deputies activated their emergency lights and sirens and attempted to catch up to the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. Deputies caught up to the vehicle when it slowed to exit Interstate 70 at Exit 296 (S. Washington Street).
Upon exiting the interstate, the driver traveled through the grass median of the roundabout on S.
Washington Street. The driver continued southbound around the roundabout before turning east and entering the westbound Interstate 70 off-ramp, traveling in the wrong direction. Deputies did not follow the vehicle and drove southbound on Washington Street and utilized the eastbound Interstate 70 on-ramp to regain visual of the vehicle. Upon entering the interstate, deputies observed the vehicle had been involved in a head-on collision with another vehicle in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70.
Deputies immediately approached both vehicles and attempted to render lifesaving aid. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The Kansas Highway Patrol is responsible for investigating the fatality crash.
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JUNCTION CITY — Two people were killed, including a 41-year-old man from Caney, in a two-vehicle wreck on I-70 in Geary County on Wednesday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the two deceased persons as Seth Aaron Moreland, age 41, of Caney, and Diane M. Lister, age 62, of Chapman, Kan.
According to the KHP’s preliminary crash report, Moreland was being pursued by the Geary County Sheriff’s Department as he was westbound on I-70. The cause of the pursuit was not divulged in the report.
Driving a Ford F150 pickup truck, Moreland exited I-70 and then re-entered the interstate in the opposite direction. He then struck the Lister vehicle, which was a 2019 Cadillac sports utility vehicle, head-on in the interchange area.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene of the collision.
