Katherine Allison Harrison, 25, of Shawnee died Thursday, Oct. 29, after an SUV struck her while she stood behind her parked car on the shoulder of northbound Interstate 35 near 75th Street in Johnson County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol's online crash log, the crash happened at 6:35 p.m. about four-tenths of a mile south of the 75th Street bridge. Her 1991 Honda was legally parked on the right shoulder with its hazard lights flashing. She was standing behind the car, looking into the trunk.

A 2024 Subaru Crosstrek was traveling northbound on the right shoulder and struck Harrison and the Honda from behind, according to the crash log. The impact pushed Harrison and her car into the northbound travel lanes. The Subaru came to rest in the right ditch.

The crash log does not say how far the Subaru had been driven on the shoulder before the collision or why it was there.

According to the Johnson County Post, witnesses and other drivers stopped immediately after the crash to check for injuries and begin first aid. Overland Park and Lenexa firefighters responded along with paramedics from two Johnson County Med-Act ambulances.

Harrison was taken to Overland Park Regional hospital in critical condition. Troopers said she later died from her injuries, according to the Johnson County Post.

The Subaru driver, identified in the crash log as Tripper L. Sadler, 47, of Bonner Springs, was taken to a hospital with what the patrol classified as a suspected minor injury. He was wearing a seat belt.

Northbound I-35 closed for hours

Northbound I-35 remained restricted or closed for more than five hours

Troopers used survey equipment and a drone to document the scene while lanes were closed. Tow trucks then removed both vehicles and cleared debris.

Earlier in the evening, northbound traffic had been restricted to one lane. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) arrived around 8 p.m. to help close the interstate at 87th Street. Traffic was diverted to the exit ramp leading to 87th and 75th streets, and northbound traffic from U.S. Highway 69 was rerouted to the 75th Street exit.

Overland Park police officers also responded to a three-vehicle, low-speed fender bender on the 75th Street exit ramp during the closure. No injuries were reported in that secondary crash.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said it continues to investigate what led to the crash.