On July 1, at 12 p.m., Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a location at NW 50th Avenue and K-96 Highway near Heizer. Emergency personnel were responding to a reported injury accident involving multiple motor vehicles including a truck tractor and semi-trailer.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered a three-vehicle accident.
Investigation at the scene indicates a 2010 Peterbilt truck tractor operated by Francis E. Mastel, age 71 of Rantoul, Kansas was westbound on K-96 Highway. A 2020 Ford F250 pickup truck operated by Kayden M. Calloway, age 24 of Hoisington was northbound on NE 50th Avenue.
Investigation indicates Calloway failed to yield right-of-way while attempting to make a turn onto K-96. The Calloway vehicle was struck by the westbound truck and semi trailer. A third vehicle, a 2017 Ford F150 operated by Craig Fischer, age 66 of Ellinwood, was eastbound and went into the south ditch in an attempt to avoid the collision of the other two vehicles. The Fischer vehicle was struck by the Calloway vehicle when it overturned and rolled into the ditch.
Mastel and Calloway were transported to University of Kansas Health Systems in Great Bend with non-life-threatening injuries. Fischer was treated at the scene and released.
The semi-trailer was loaded with 58 head of cattle and overturned during the collision. Men and equipment were brought to the scene to assist in removing the cattle from the truck. K-96 was closed for approximately 2 ½ hours.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Great Bend Fire Department and EMS service and Kansas Department of Transportation.