ACCIDENTS
REPORTED
These accident reports were released this past week by law enforcement agencies:
SHERIFF
Pawnee Rd. north of 360th Rd.
A 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 owned by QBE Holdings of Randolph was destroyed after it caught fire at 11:26 a.m. June 29 when crop insurance adjuster Jordan Hangenmaier, 35, of Randolph returned to blacktopped roadway after driving through a cut wheat field he was inspecting.
190th Rd. east of Pawnee Rd.
Renee J. Gilkey, 37, Hillsboro, hit a coyote with her 2021 Mazda CX9 at 11:50 p.m. July 1.
Holly Rd. north of 180th Rd.
Trees blocking her view were blamed when Miranda R. Walles, 16, rural Hillsboro, pulled out of her driveway in her 2000 Ford Mustang and hit the driver’s side of a 2006 GMC Sierra being driven on Holly Rd. by its owner, William J. Gilliland, 48, Topeka
US-56/77 at 290th Rd.
James A. Woods Jr., 20, Lincolnville, was injured at 11:07 a.m. July 4 when he allegedly failed to stop on 290th Rd. and drove a 2015 Honda Civic into a 2011 Dodge Ram 2500 traveling on US-56/77.
Woods was taken to Via Christi – St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, by Marion ambulance. Deputy Derek Fetrow’s report states that Woods was driving inattentively, failed to yield, disregarded a stop sign, and was driving with a suspended license, but no citations were issued.
The Honda, owned by Valerie M. Craney of the same Lincolnville address, was towed, as was the Dodge pickup, owned and driven by Anastasia N. Schmidt, 31, of Kingfield, Maine.
Lucas R. Schmidt, also 31 and of the same address, was a passenger in the pickup.
Indigo Rd. north of 180th Rd.
Ethan W. Pertain, 24, Newton, was cited for driving without liability insurance after he drove his 1998 Dodge Dakota off the road and into a weight limit sign and trees at 9 a.m. July 5.
The pickup was towed.
190th Rd. east of Kanza Rd.
County appraiser Nicole K. Reid, 33, Marion, hit a deer with her 2013 Hyundai Elantra at 10:11 p.m. July 6.
Damien M. Thouvennell, 13, of the same address was a passenger.
K-15 south of 180th Rd.
Benjamin J. Eichkorn, 21, Wichita, fell asleep at the wheel at 4 p.m. July 7 and drove a 2010 Ford Escape into a “no passing” sign, through a ditch and a fence, and into a deep waterway.
The car, owned by James W. Eichkorn of the same Wichita address, had to be towed.
Cottonwood Point campground
Ashley M. Felkins, 36, Wichita, suffered apparently minor injuries at 6:25 p.m. Sunday when she hit a marker pole with her 2018 Kia Sorento while attempting to pull into a Marion Reservoir restroom.
Two passengers — Lealia Felkins, 13, of the same Wichita address and Kailen Deluna, 14, of Goddard — also reported apparently minor injuries, but no ambulance was called.
Two more teen-age girls in the car — Avery Wright and Savanna Santiago, both 14, of different Wichita addresses — did not report injuries.
MARION
Kellison St. east of Coble St.
Reckless or careless driving and antagonistic or aggressive driving were listed as contributing factors to an accident at 9:11 p.m. July 4 in which a side-by-side sports vehicle veered off the street and into a ditch, overturning onto passenger Todd Winter, 44, Marion.
Winter was taken by Marion ambulance to Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, where he continues to undergo treatment for injuries listed in an accident report as disabling.
Officer Steve Janzen’s report states that a 2021 Polaris Razor driven by owner Russell Hake, 52, Marion, and owned by Riley Hake of Marion skidded for more than 150 feet across the gravel road before crashing into an opposite ditch and trapping Winter beneath it.
No citations have been issued, but the case will be referred to the county attorney when investigation is completed, police chief Clinton Jeffrey said Tuesday.
Janzen’s report states that no evidence of alcohol use was detected, and that no test for blood alcohol levels was administered.
Jeffrey said Tuesday that the accident may have involved an exhibition of speed. The side-by-side’s top rated speed is listed as 80 mph.
Some editions of this week's paper incorrectly stated that Riley Hake rather than Russell Hake was driving the side-by-side. The newspaper apologizes for the error.
Last modified July 14, 2021