2 Haysville men die in fiery crash

Two Haysville men were killed early Thursday 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. Thursday, Pierce said.

Emerson was ejected from the car, which came to rest on the east side of Broadway about 100 feet north of 63rd 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.

A sheriff's deputy had noticed headlights on the closed portion of 63rd South and was going to investigate when he saw the collision occur, Pierce said. He was not chasing the Camaro, and he did not have his flashing lights activated.

The driver of the semi hauling soybeans, a 28-year-old man from Belle Plaine, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and having an open container.

He was driving at or below the speed limit at the time of the crash, Pierce said. 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.

This story was originally published November 6, 2009 at 12:00 AM with the headline "2 Haysville men die in fiery crash."