KANSAS OFFICER KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS IN ICY WRECK

An 11-year veteran of the Leawood Police Department was knocked unconscious when a sport utility vehicle hit his patrol car as he was exiting it on an icy interstate. It happened shortly before 7:30 a.m. on eastbound Interstate 435 just west of State Line Road.

The officer had pulled up behind a vehicle that was stopped on the shoulder of the interstate when the SUV lost control, spun out and hit the patrol car.

The force of the collision forced him back into his patrol car, initially knocking him unconscious. He was taken to Overland Park Regional Medical Center, where he was in good condition.

The SUV then ended up on its driver's side. The SUV driver was able to exit the SUV on his own, and paramedics treated him at the scene. That driver said he wasn't worried about himself, but he was concerned about the officer's well-being, and he hoped to visit the officer at the hospital. The Kansas Highway Patrol was investigating the wreck, which forced authorities to temporarily close the interstate.

An Overland Park, Kan., police officer heading to help the Leawood officer also wrecked. That officer's patrol car hit a wall.