STAFFORD COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Stafford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Mark E. Hawkins, 21, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was northbound on NE 50th Avenue five miles east of St. John.
A 2006 Saturn Vue driven by Tate J. Martin, 17, Ellinwood, was westbound on NE 40th Street.
Both vehicles entered the intersection at the same time. The Saturn struck the Dodge on the passenger side. After impact, both vehicles left the roadway and entered the west ditch on NE 50th Avenue.
EMS transported Tate to Wesley Medical Center where he died. EMS transported two passengers in the Dodge, 51-year-old Peter A. Laskowski of Stevens Point, Wisconsin and 52-year-old Gregory L. Witt of Moneta, Virginia to Pratt Regional Hospital where Laskowski died.
EMS transported Hawkins and a passenger in the Saturn, 17-year-old Trace L. Ritterhouse of Ellinwood, to the Stafford County Hospital and a third passenger in the Dodge 64-year-old Orville R. Meade of Verona, Virginia to the hospital in Great Bend. None of those involved were wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.