Cab comes off chassis in deadly Kansas crash, sheriff says. Alcohol may be involved

One of two men died Saturday night after being thrown from a vehicle during a crash that separated the cab from the chassis, a central Kansas law enforcement agency said.

Emergency crews were called at around 10:11 p.m. Saturday to an injury accident in the 8000 block of East 17th Avenue, the Reno County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. That’s about 3 miles east of Hutchinson city limits. The wreck was first reported after the man who survived the crash walked to an area home to ask for help.

Investigators determined the driver lost control of the vehicle before it entered the ditch and likely overturned, the sheriff’s office said. The vehicle came to rest on the driver’s side of the chassis — except for the cab, which became detached during the crash.

Both men were thrown from the vehicle during the wreck. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

The sheriff’s office identified the man who died as Corey Glenn Ryker, 22, of South Sioux City, Nebraska. The passenger was identified as Logan M. Nelson, 22, of Waterbury, Nebraska.

The investigation is ongoing, but the sheriff’s office said speed and alcohol are believed to have contributed to the fatal wreck.

In a comment on the sheriff’s office post, Brian Nelson said his son was the passenger “and is very lucky to be alive.”

“He is beat up really bad but will recover,” Nelson said. “He lost his best friend in this accident and is hurting emotionally as well as phisicaly (sic). I would also like to thank all the officers and EMS people who took care of my son and also the couple who’s house he walked to for help. With out all of them i may have lost my son as well.”