By Lila Marquez
July 29, 2026
TOPEKA, Kan. — Two women were taken to a Topeka hospital Tuesday morning following a two-vehicle crash near Southwest 12th and Lane streets that left one vehicle badly damaged and required firefighters to cut at least one occupant from a car.
The crash was reported at approximately 8:42 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, at the central Topeka intersection, according to published reports.
The collision came during a brief break in the rain that had moved through Topeka Tuesday morning.
Within minutes of the crash, a large emergency response converged on the intersection. Two Topeka Fire Department trucks, two ambulances and multiple Topeka Police Department units responded, with emergency vehicles seen traveling south on Washburn Avenue toward the scene.
Photos taken at the scene show two heavily damaged passenger vehicles — a blue Honda CR-V and a blue Hyundai sedan — separated by the intersection. The Honda came to rest on the grass near the corner with significant front-end damage and a traffic sign knocked to the ground nearby.
The Hyundai sustained substantial damage along the driver’s side. Firefighters worked around the vehicle as emergency medical personnel treated its occupant. A detached door can be seen lying nearby after firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment, commonly known as the “Jaws of Life,” to gain access to the woman inside.
Both women involved were alert following the collision, according to observations at the scene, but each was ultimately placed on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Their conditions were not immediately known.
Several children and other bystanders could be seen nearby as firefighters, paramedics and police worked the scene.
Witness information indicated that one of the vehicles may have failed to stop before the collision. However, police have not publicly confirmed which driver had the right of way or whether a traffic violation caused the crash. The official cause remains under investigation.
The number of people occupying the two vehicles at the time of the collision also remains unclear.
Photos from the aftermath show the force of the collision scattered across the corner: broken vehicle pieces in the roadway, a knocked-down street sign, deployed airbags and extensive damage to both vehicles.
Despite the severity of the wreck and the need to extricate one occupant, everyone visible at the scene appeared conscious and responsive while being treated by first responders.
No citations or arrests related to the crash had been publicly announced as of Wednesday morning.
This is a developing story. Additional information will be added if Topeka police release further details about the cause of the collision or the conditions of those hospitalized.
