On Wednesday, March 13, at about 2:40 p.m., Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported injury accident on US 56 Highway at the intersection of SW 80th Avenue. Initial reports indicated that a pickup truck had struck a truck tractor/semi trailer combination at that location.
Upon arrival, deputies located a 2024 Kenworth operated by Kelsey Jackson of Hutchinson. The trailer was loaded with agricultural chemicals. The second vehicle was a 2000 Nissan frontier operated by Randy Johnson of Pawnee Rock.
Investigation at the scene indicates the tractor trailer unit was westbound on US 56 and began to make a right-hand turn onto SW 80th Ave. when the Nissan struck the rear of the of the tractor trailer, turning over and sliding under the trailer. The Nissan was drug a short distance as the semi came to a stop.
Johnson was extracted from the vehicle by the Great Bend Fire Department. He was transported by ground ambulance to KU Med Center in Great Bend with non-life-threatening injuries. Jackson was not injured in the collision.
The accident is still under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office. We were assisted at the scene by the Great Bend fire and EMS and the Kansas Highway Patrol.