TOPEKA —It was a deadly holiday weekend on Kansas highways. Seven people died in four accidents.
The first fatality occurred just before 1p.m. Friday in Sedgwick County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Buick LaCrosse driven by Eugene Judson Theodore Stumblingbear, 44, Attica, was eastbound in the westbound lanes of Kansas 42 one quarter mile east of S 279th Street W.
The car struck a westbound 2024 Western Star semi driven by Donald David Piotrowski, 54,Valley Center, head-on.
Stumblingbear was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center. EMS transported Piotrowski to Ascension Via Christi St Francis. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage details.
Just after 10a.m. Saturday in Coffey County, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Dallas R. Reeves, 20, Janesville, Wisconsin, was southbound on U.S. 75 just north of 8th Road.
The car was passing another vehicle. A northbound 2021 Chevy Silverado driven by Charles L Jarrell, 46, Leroy, Kansas, attempted to avoid a collision, slowed and steered to the northbound shoulder.
The Camry driver also steered to the northbound shoulder and collided with the pickup. After impact, the car spun and came to rest in the northbound lane and shoulder. The pickup came to a rest in the north ditch.
Reeves was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Jones Funeral Home. EMS transported Jarrell and a 6-ear-old passenger from the pickup to the Coffey County Hospital. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.
Four people died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday in Dickinson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Hyundai Elantra driven by Dawn Rae Peel, 30, Herington, was eastbound on Kansas 4 four miles west of Kansas 15 Highway.
The car crossed the center line and struck a westbound 2025 Chevy Traverse driven by Adam Gerhart Henely, 23, Salina, head-on.
Peel, and 2 passengers in the car including 71-year-old Peggy Ann Sutton of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and an 8-year-old boy from Herington were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Martin Becker Carlson Funeral Home. A passenger in the SUV identified as 57-year-old Denise Renee Henely of Herington also died at the scene and was transported to Martin Becker Carlson Funeral Home.
EMS transported an 8-year-old male passenger from the car and a 14-year-old male passenger from the SUV, both of Herington to Wesley Medical Center.
Henely and and a third passenger in the SUV were not transported for treatment. All eight were properly restrained, according to the KHP.
One person died in an accident just after 2a.m. Sunday in Geary County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ford Fusion driven by Richard B. Roberts, 20, Sebring, Florida, was northbound on U.S. 77 at Old Milford Road at a high rate of speed. The car entered into the east ditch, struck a tree and caught fire.
Roberts was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Johnson Funeral Home. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.