On Tuesday, Aug. 6, at about 7:33 a.m., the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an injury accident involving three vehicles on US 281 Highway, at approximately mile pole 113. This is near the intersection of 90 Road and US 281.
Upon arrival, deputies found a rolled over vehicle in the roadway with one occupant pinned inside, two other vehicles were in the area with heavy damage.
Investigation at the scene indicates that a white Pontiac G6, operated by Devon Hiner of Great Bend, had stopped to make a left-hand turn onto 90 Road. A second vehicle, a gray Chevy Honda Accord operated by Eric Murphy of Great Bend, had stopped behind the Pontiac. A third vehicle, a white Chevy Tahoe driven by Loretta Russell of Great Bend, struck the rear of the Honda and became airborne. The Tahoe inverted while airborne landing on the front vehicle, the Pontiac, while it was making the turn. The Tahoe then came to rest on its roof in the middle of US 281.
Russell was pinned inside the vehicle for about 20 minutes while Hoisington Fire Department and EMS service extracted her from the vehicle. Three juveniles that were in the Russell vehicle were properly restrained in car seats and not injured.
All three drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision. All three drivers were transported to Clara Barton hospital in Hoisington. All injuries appear to be non-life-threatening.
US 281 Highway was closed for a little more than an hour. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Hoisington Fire Department and EMS service, the Hoisington Police Department as well as the Kansas Department of Transportation for traffic control.