Storms rolled into Kansas around 7 p.m. Thursday
June 18, 2017
Wind gusts of 70 and over 80 miles per hour damaged roofs and toppled trees in many areas of the state. Hail up to to softball size was reported. The National Weather Service issued numerous tornado watches and severe weather warnings.
The storm in Ellis County brought in near hurricane force winds, large hail and heavy rains.
In Barber County the Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Freightliner semi truck driven by Colin Jay Wespe, 24, of El Dorado, was southbound on U.S. Highway 281 at Rattlesnake Trail. The truck began to slow down due to inclement weather. The wind blew the semi-tractor trailer onto its side in the ditch. Wespe was transported to the Kiowa (Kansas) County Hospital.
Several homes in Hardtner, Kansas, were also damaged. Hardtner has a population of 172 and has 126 housing units in the area. Hardtner has had three hail storms with 10 miles in the last three years.
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