Lost Springs man dies in head-on crash
Staff writer
Kendall L. Harding, 29, Lost Springs, was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-trailer truck at 1 p.m. Monday on US-56/77 just north of 270th Rd.
According to Kansas Highway Patrol, Harding was northbound on US-56/77 when his 2019 Ram 1500 veered for some reason into the southbound lane.
The pickup collided head-on with a 2023 Peterbilt driven by Jason P. Mathews, 36, Garnett. Mathews suffered no apparent injury, according to KHP.
Lincolnville firefighters and first responders and Tampa ambulance were dispatched at 1:07 p.m.
Because Marion ambulance was out of the county, talking a patient to Susan B. Allen Hospital in El Dorado, Hillsboro ambulance was called as well.
An ambulance supervisor also responded, and Marion rescue squad quickly was added to the units dispatched.
Herington firefighters volunteered to respond as did a Dickinson County ambulance. A helicopter ambulance also was ordered, but the extra ambulances were told to stand down after Lincolnville fire chief Les Kaiser became the first rescuer to arrive at 1:16 p.m.
Kaiser’s almost immediate evaluation was that Harding had been killed. He also noted that a fuel tank aboard the semi had ruptured, and firefighters had to control spilling fuel.
Kaiser reported that motorists were attempting to bypass the wreck by using county roads, and soon afterward responders were alerted a second accident a mile east of the wreck, at Xavier and 270th Rds.
Two vehicles apparently were involved, and a deputy and Tampa ambulance were diverted to that location. The ambulance took a person injured in that wreck to St. Luke Hospital, Marion.
Utility workers also were contacted as one of the vehicles in the second accident had hit a power pole, and it was threatening to collapse and take power lines with it.
After returning from El Dorado, Marion ambulance also reported to the US-77 accident. It was not needed, however, and returned to its station.
US-56/77 was closed north and south of the accident for several hours. Through traffic was redirected to K-15, nearly 16 miles to the west.
Firefighters blocked the highway until Kansas Department of Transportation workers could replace them shortly after 3 p.m. at the US-56/77/K-150 roundabout seven miles to the south and shortly after 5 p.m. north of the accident at 290th Rd. in Lincolnville.
KDOT workers were delayed in replacing Herington firefighters north of the accident because of concerns about whether county roads were passable.
An Atmos Energy crew from Marion, sent to Herington to investigate a gas leak, was denied permission by KHP to drive through the accident scene and had to find an alternate route at 3:19 p.m.
Photos and more information will be available online and in this week’s print edition later this week.