ACCIDENTS

REPORTED

These accident reports were released this past week by law enforcement agencies:

HIGHWAY PATROL

US-56/77 north of 340th Rd.

A 36-year-old Mississippi man was seriously injured when his northbound 2026 GMC Sierra crossed the centerline at 10:12 p.m. Feb. 23 and collided head-on with a southbound 2025 International semi-trailer truck.

Pickup driver Christopher G. Walker of Bentonia, Mississippi, was taken to Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, by Marion ambulance.

Semi driver Jonathan W. Hartico, 49, Wichita, suffered no apparent injury.

Both vehicles were towed.

340th Rd. east of Sunflower Rd.

Michael R. Walsh, 75, Lost Springs, was injured when he fell asleep at 7:15 a.m. Feb. 25 and his westbound 2005 Dodge Ram crossed the centerline and collided with an eastbound Centre school bus.

Walsh was taken to St. Luke by Marion ambulance. One of seven unidentified students on the bus was listed as possibly being injured but was not taken to a hospital.

The bus driver was identified as James L. Beeson, 79, whose hometown was listed on official reports as Paola.

Both the bus and the pickup were towed.

US-77 two miles north of US-50

Sheldon E. Cook, 19, Wamego, lost control of his northbound 2014 Ford Mustang on a slippery Cottonwood River bridge at 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

The car crossed the centerline and struck the bridge’s west barrier, bounced off, and hit a southbound 2015 Ford Explorer that had moved to the northbound lane in an attempt to avoid colliding.

Cook suffered what was listed as a suspected minor injury and was taken to St. Luke Hospital, Marion, by Marion ambulance.

No injuries were reported among the Explorer’s driver, Logan J. Wakefield, 29, or passengers, Ashley M. Wakefield, 30; Kylen K. Wakefield, 10; Leyla D. Wakefield, 11; and Zoey L. Wakefield, 9, all of El Dorado.

SHERIFF

110th Rd. east of Jade Rd.

A 2015 BMW X5 being driven on dirt roads from Lindsborg to Wichita became stuck in mud shortly after midnight Feb. 16, according to our of four accident reports released Friday by the sheriff’s department.

The car’s tires caught fire from attempts to free the car. Driver Justin A. Taylor, 42, Lindsborg, attempted to put the fire out with a towel, but fire consumed the car.

US-56/77 south of 230th Rd.

Lauren E. Bianco, 29, Manhattan, hit a deer at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 while driving a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan.

Layci J. Bianco-Simoni, 10, of the same Manhattan address, was a passenger.

The car, owned by Scott R. Napoli of Junction City, sustained disabling damage to its front, hood, undercarriage, windshield, and driver’s side and was towed.

Division St. east of Walnut St., Peabody

A 78-year-old Newton woman walking north to her car at 3:11 p.m. Feb. 15 was hit by a westbound 2008 Cadillac STS whose driver said she was blinded by the sun.

The driver was identified as Roberta A. Saylor, 85, Peabody. The pedestrian was listed as Lauren A. Hartke, who had been outside Peabody Township Library. She declined to be taken to a hospital by Hillsboro ambulance.

The Cadillac was not damaged, deputy Clayton Philpott’s report states.

Diamond Rd. south of 310th Rd.

A 1990 Kenworth T600 semi-trailer truck driven by a 16-year-old at 2:46 p.m. Feb. 23 slammed into the rear of a 2020 Ford F-150 that its 71-year-old driver had stopped in the roadway.

Deputy Clayton Philpott’s report blames the wreck on improper parking by Ford driver Autumn R. Chisholm of rural Durham, inadequate avoidance action by semi driver Micah P. Wiebe of a different rural Durham address, and visibility being limited by blowing dirt.

No tickets were listed as being issued.

Both vehicles sustained diasabling damage — the semi to its right front and undercarriage, the pickup to its left rear, undercarriage, and windows — and were towed. The semi is owned by Dalton L. Wiebe of the driver’s address.