On Thursday, Jan. 30, at about 5:35 p.m. the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported injury accident on US 56 Highway at mile marker 208. This location is approximately ½ mile east of the Great Bend city limits on US 56.
Officers were advised there were three vehicles involved in the collision.
Investigation at the scene indicates a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Heather Ward of Great Bend was stopped to make a left-hand turn in the eastbound lane. Another vehicle, a 2015 Nissan Ultima driven by James Misunas of Nickerson was stopped behind the Ward vehicle. A third vehicle, a 2018 Dodge 2500 pickup truck driven by Robert Weeks of Claflin was also traveling eastbound and evidently did not see the other vehicles stopped in the roadway. Weeks failed to get stopped in time prior to colliding with the Misunas vehicle. This caused a chain reaction accident.
The driver of the second vehicle, James Misunas, was transported to KU Health Systems in Great Bend with possible back and head injuries. The other drivers refused treatment at the scene.
It is believed all three drivers were properly restrained at the time of the collision.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Great Bend fire Department and EMS Service as well as the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Traffic was restricted in the area for approximately one hour.