Eric Gonzalez identified as having died after car plunged off bridge onto I-70 in Topeka
Eric Gonzalez, a 2022 Highland Park High School graduate, was among two people who died after their car plunged off a bridge Sunday onto westbound Interstate 70, which had been closed for a pavement patching project, Topeka USD 501 Superintendent Tiffany Anderson confirmed Tuesday.
The other person killed, whose identity has not been released, had been a current USD 501 student, Anderson told The Topeka Capital-Journal.
“Many across our school community are impacted as Eric attended TPS schools since elementary school,” Anderson said. “Please keep all of the impacted families uplifted in your thoughts and prayers.”
The district was making counseling available for those affected by the news, Anderson said.
Topeka police late Tuesday morning were continuing to investigate.
"We do not have positive IDs on either one of the victims," said police Lt. Manuel Munoz. "The information that has been given to media outlets have been done by the families."
Officers called about 2:30 p.m. to the crash scene, said Topeka police officer Mike Hren.
A car containing the two was involved in a collision with a semi-trailer on S.E. 6th Avenue, then went off a bridge on its south side and landed below on westbound I-70.
One occupant was pronounced deceased at the scene while the other was taken to a Topeka hospital with injuries that were considered life-threatening, Hren said.
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Roadways at the accident scene remained closed until early Monday morning, said police Lt. Kerry Connell.
Connell announced Monday that the car's second occupant had died.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Eric Gonzalez, one other person die as car plunges off Topeka bridge
