Seven dead after six crashes across Kansas on the same day. How these wrecks unfolded
The Kansas Highway Patrol worked six different vehicle crashes across Kansas Wednesday that left seven people dead, reports show.
Here’s a look at those crashes.
Wilson County
The first crash was reported at 6:35 a.m. along U.S. Highway 400 in southeast Kansas where a man and woman died after crashing into a semi-truck.
A 2005 Mercury Grand Marquis being driven by 76-year-old Donald Christeson was heading west on U.S. 400. A semi-truck heading south on a side road made a left turn onto eastbound U.S. 400 and failed to yield, a KHP crash log said.
The Mercury struck the trailer axle of the truck. Christeson and his passenger, 61-year-old Teresa Mansfield, died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the semi, a 74-year-old man from Fredonia was not hurt, according to the KHP.
Christeson was from Liberty and Mansfield was from Independence, Kansas.
Marshall County
The second crash occurred at 11:49 a.m. along U.S. Highway 36 in northeast Kansas where a woman died after a vehicle crossed a highway center line and struck another vehicle.
A 1999 Jeep Cherokee being driven by 23-year-old Emily Larson of Bremen, Kansas was heading west on U.S. 36; A 2020 Buick Enclave was eastbound. For unknown reasons, Larson crossed the center line and struck the Enclave, a KHP report read.
The Jeep came to a stop in the roadway while the Enclave stopped on a shoulder. Larson died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Enclave, an 89-year-old woman from Marysville, Kansas suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital in Nebraska, the KHP said.
Sedgwick County
A 21-year-old Sedgwick, Kansas, woman died after a multi-vehicle wreck north of Wichita at 3:20 p.m.
Katelyn Heier died at the scene of the crash, KHP crash logs show.
The crash was reported along northbound I-135 just north of the 85th Street exit near Valley Center. Heier was heading north on I-135 in a 2010 Toyota Camry during heavy traffic. For unknown reasons, she rear-ended a 2006 Honda Accord in front of her. The Accord had two occupants.
The driver and passenger of the Accord, a 46-year-old man and 20-year-old man, both from Bentonville, Arkansas, were not injured.
The 39-year-old Wichita man driving the F-450 was not injured. His passenger, a 37-year-old man from Clearwater, said he had minor body pain.
Thomas County
A woman died after a crash between two vehicles at 4 p.m. along U.S. Highway 83 in northwest Kansas.
A 2014 Jeep Cherokee was heading north on the highway while a 2011 Dodge Charger was driving southbound on the same road. The Cherokee attempted to make a left turn onto a private driveway, when the Charger collided with it, the KHP said.
All three occupants in the Cherokee were taken to Logan County Hospital with suspected serious injuries. All three are from Oakley, Kansas.
Susan Englert, 68, of Rochelle, Illinois, was in the Charger. She was taken to Citizens Medical Center where she died from her injuries. The driver and other two occupants in the Charger were taken to a medical center suspected serious injuries, according to the crash log.
The other three occupants in the charger were from Michigan and Colorado.
Cowley County
A Kansas Highway Patrol emergency communications supervisor said one person died from natural causes after a crash north of Winfield in south-central Kansas.
The deceased person’s identity was not released, what kind of vehicles were involved is unknown. The supervisor said two other people were injured in crash.
The crash was reported at 6:18 p.m. along 101st road and 146th road, north of Winfield. The crash log narrative said one vehicle was heading south on 101th while another vehicle was heading north on the same road, the KHP said.
The southbound vehicle crossed the center line into the northbound lane and collided with the northbound vehicle, according to the report.
Cherokee County
The crash occurred at 8:02 p.m. in southeast Kansas where a man on a motorcycle died after rear ending a pickup truck.
The wreck was reported on SE 70th street and SE Quakervale Road in Riverton. A 2015 Dodge pickup truck was northbound on 70th waiting in traffic to turn left onto Quakervale, the KHP said.
William Meiers-Vilmer, 36, of Pittsburg, was also heading north on 70th on a Honda motorcycle when he failed to slow down and rear-ended the Dodge. He was thrown off the bike, according to the crash log.
Meiers-Vilmer died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Dodge, a 35-year-old man from Baxter Springs was not hurt.
This story was originally published September 12, 2024 at 5:21 PM.