On March 23, 2023 at about 2:45 PM the Sheriff’s Office was notified of an accident in the 900 block of E. Barton County Rd. This location is just east of the junction of US 56 and E. Barton County Rd. near Ellinwood.
Upon arrival Sheriff’s deputies located a 1993 Ford Ranger pickup, green in color that had overturned and was in a field on the north side of the roadway. The sole occupant of the vehicle later identified as Ronald Kelly age 84 of Ellinwood was trapped in the vehicle. Personnel from the Ellinwood Fire Department and EMS Service extracted Kelly from the vehicle at which time he was transported to Ellinwood District Hospital. Kelly was flown to a Wichita area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigation at the scene indicates the vehicle was eastbound and for unknown reasons left the roadway and struck a farm driveway at which point it became airborne. The vehicle vaulted over the drive landing in the field on the other side and overturned. Kelly was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the possibility the driver had a medical incident prior to the collision.
The Sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the Ellinwood Police Department, Ellinwood EMS Service, and Ellinwood Fire Department. A Game Warden from Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks also stopped to assist.