Crossover on US-69 leads to head on fatality accident

Posted: March 29, 2012 - 5:41am

Updated: March 30, 2012 - 1:39am

Updated Story:
The Kansas Highway Patrol has now identified the driver killed in this accident as 57-year-old, Scott E. Klein of San Clemente, California. Klein was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The other driver has been identified as 45-year-old, Marilyn S, Nickell of Drexel, Missouri. Nickell was transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas where she is listed in stable condition.

Troopers say they are still investigating why Nickell's 1997 GMC Safari mini-van crossed the median and drove into oncoming traffic. A preliminary accident report shows that after crossing the center median, Nickell drove on the inside (left) lane of southbound US-69 while traveling northbound. Klein was traveling southbound in that same lane when the accident occurred. Nickell is believed to have driven into oncoming traffic for at least a mile and a half before prior to the accident. Investigators say that both drivers were wearing their seat belts and they continue to investigate whether or not Nickell was impaired by alcohol or a medical condition at the time of the crash.

Original Story: March 29, 2012 - 10:23am

The Louisburg Fire Department was dispatched at 5:34 a.m. after the Miami County Sheriff's Office received reports of a head on accident on US-69 Highway approximately two miles south of K-68 Highway, near Louisburg. Less than two minutes before the Fire Department was dispatched, Deputies were advised of a mini-van driving northbound in the southbound lanes of US-69 Highway. Highway Patrol Troopers say that a dispatcher was still on the phone with one of the people reporting the wrong-way vehicle when the head-on crash occurred.

Miami County Deputies arrived first at the scene of the accident and reported GMC mini-van on its side in the median with a female trapped inside. A second deputy reported that the other vehicle, a Ford Fusion, had one occupant inside. The male driver of the Ford was confirmed to be deceased by Miami County EMS personnel.

Louisburg Firefighters spent about 50 minutes extricating the female driver from the crashed mini-van. She was then transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, by a LifeFlight Eagle helicopter. Troopers say that she was alert and talking as she was loaded onto the helicopter and is cooperating in the investigation.

A source familiar with the incident tells Operation 100 News that the injured driver is an approximately 45-year-old female. Her injuries were said to serious but, not immediately life threatening, per the source.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and Miami County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate the accident and have not released any further details.

Stay with Operation 100 News on this blog and on Twitter for the latest details as they become available. Remember where you heard this news first. Operation 100 News, reporting the news to the public as it breaks.

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