Haysville men killed in fiery crash identified

BY STAN FINGER
The Wichita Eagle

Two Haysville men were killed early this morning when their car crashed into a semi at Broadway and 63rd South in Sedgwick County, authorities said.

Colton Emerson, 19, was driving west on a closed portion of 63rd Street South at "a significantly higher speed" than the posted limit of 45 mph in a red Camaro Z28, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Mark Pierce said.

Emerson ran a red light at the intersection with Broadway and struck the side of a truck hauling 45,000 pounds of soybeans at 12:49 a.m., Pierce said.

Emerson was ejected from the car, which came to rest about 100 feet north of 63rd Street South and caught fire. A passenger, 25-year-old Beau Blake, was pinned in the burning vehicle, Pierce said.

Both men died at the scene. Toxicology reports are pending to see if substances could have played a role in the crash.

The driver of the semi hauling soybeans was arrested on suspicion of DUI and having an open container. There were two passengers in the truck, which came to rest one-third of a mile north of the intersection.

One of the two passengers was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a minor injury, Pierce said.

Reach Stan Finger at 316-268-6437 or sfinger@wichitaeagle.com.