By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
For the second time in 26 months, the Ellinwood Fire Department was the site of an injury accident. At 3:22 a.m. Thursday morning, law enforcement officers from the Ellinwood Police Department and Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to the accident at Ellinwood Fire Department North, located at 209 W. 1st Street.
"Upon arrival, officers discovered a 2001 Honda Accord embedded into the southeast corner of the building," said Ellinwood Police Chief Chance Bailey. "Preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle was traveling eastbound on Santa Fe Boulevard at a high rate of speed when the vehicle crossed both westbound lanes of traffic and crashed into the building."
In October 2020, the driver of a Chevrolet pickup smashed through a wall at the fire department's south location. That accident destroyed the structure and totaled two fire trucks. Several years ago, a vehicle struck a retaining wall at the Ellinwood Power Plant that sits next to the north station.
"There is a slight jog as you come into town," Bailey said. "The highway's almost in a southeasterly direction. In the 300 block of West Santa Fe, it levels off to go due east, then turns again after the traffic light. Right where that gentle curve is, if drivers are distracted or impaired, or not obeying the posted speed limits, then they're unable to navigate that curve."
The driver in Thursday's crash, a male juvenile, was transported to Ellinwood District Hospital by Ellinwood EMS to be treated for injuries. The accident remains under investigation.