Two injured in reported head-on crash in Merriam

Posted: January 2, 2019 - 12:17 a.m.

Police continue to investigate after two people were injured in a crash on a busy Johnson County road on Tuesday afternoon.

Merriam Police say the crash happened just after 2 p.m. in the westbound lanes of 75th Street on the bridge over Interstate 35.

Overland Park Fire Department firefighters arrived to find one of the heavily damaged vehicles on fire and both drivers outside of the cars.

Johnson County Med-Act transported two men to the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Police say their injuries are non-life threatening. One of the men is in his late teens, and the other is in his late-20s.

Recorded radio traffic indicates one of the men admitted to drinking "about five beers" before the crash and told police that he was not wearing a seat belt. Radio traffic also stated that witnesses told police this was a head-on crash and at least one of the drivers was ejected through the windshield of his vehicle.

The westbound lanes of 75th Street over Interstate 35 remain closed for several hours as police investigated the crash. All lanes reopened about 9:30 Tuesday evening.

Police have not released the names of the drivers.

The Kansas Highway Patrol, Overland Park Police Department, and the Shawnee Police Department assisted Merriam police at the scene.

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KCMO woman killed in I-35 crash in JoCo

Posted: December 5, 2014 - 9:22am
Updated: December 6, 2014 - 12:43am

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The Kansas Highway Patrol and Merriam Police are investigating after one person was ejected from their vehicle in a crash on Interstate 35.

The crash occurred in the southbound lanes of the Interstate, south of Antioch Road shortly before 9 a.m. Friday.

Troopers say a 1995 Jeep Wrangler and a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 were both traveling southbound on Interstate 35. The Jeep was in the left lane when the driver lost control and veered to the right.

The Jeep's passenger door struck the front corner of the Mercedes-Benz, which was traveling in the next lane. The collision caused the Mercedes-Benz to spin and sent the Jeep into a guard rail off of the right shoulder. The Jeep's driver was ejected when the vehicle struck the guard rail. Both vehicles ended up on the left shoulder of the Interstate.

Troopers have identified the Jeep's driver as Dalainya D. Dauster, 44, of Kansas City, Missouri. She was pronounced dead at the scene. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Mercedes-Benz was wearing a seat belt and was not injured in the crash.

Troopers continue to investigate.

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Lawrence woman killed in rural Douglas County accident

Posted: April 11, 2014 - 2:49am
Updated: April 11, 2014 - 11:18am

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Deputies say a 68-year-old Lawrence woman died at the scene of a single vehicle accident in rural Douglas County early Friday.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office Lt. Steve Lewis tells my reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World, deputies responding on the crash just before 2 a.m. and discovered the woman's body about 30 yards from a wrecked 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass.

The accident occurred in the 600 block of U.S. Highway 56, near the unincorporated community of Globe.

Deputies believe the vehicle was traveling westbound at high speed and went into the north ditch for unknown reasons.

The car then struck a pasture driveway and went airborne, about 20 feet in the air, tearing down a power line. The driver was ejected through the passenger window as the car flipped end over end. The woman was the only occupant of the car and was not wearing a seatbelt.


The accident was reported by a passerby who spotted the car crashed off of the highway.

Related report:

Lawrence Journal-World report
Operation 100 News on the Lawrence Journal-World

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Two people injured in rollover accident

Posted: January 18, 2014 - 2:14am
Updated: January 18, 2014 - 2:46am

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Olathe Police are investigating a serious accident this morning.

Emergency crews were called to the 600 block of S. Chestnut Street just after 2 a.m. Saturday. The scene is just to the north of E. Southgate Street and S. Chestnut Street.

Police arrived to report one vehicle crashed with two people possibly thrown from the vehicle.


Olathe Fire crews confirmed the vehicle came to rest on its roof on the railroad tracks.

Johnson County Med-Act reported two people with serious injuries and two people with minor injuries. Both of the people with minor injuries refused treatment at the scene.

Only one person was partially ejected from the vehicle, said to be a 21-year-old woman. She was a front seat passenger in the vehicle and was not wearing a seat belt.

The vehicle was reportedly driven by a 32-year-old man. He was reportedly wearing a seat belt.

Police are investigating if alcohol was involved.

Railroad traffic has been stopped in the area until the vehicle can be removed and the tracks can be inspected.

No other information was immediately available.

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15-year-old driver critically injured in collision with tree

Posted: January 2, 2014 - 1:48am
Updated: January 2, 2014 - 2:02am

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Johnson County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating after a 15-year-old crashed a car into a tree this morning just outside of Olathe.

The accident was initially dispatched as a car fire, on 167th Street east of U.S. 169 Highway in Olathe Township. Olathe Police arrived on the scene at 1:12 a.m. to find the vehicle fully engulfed. Officers discovered that the driver had been thrown from the vehicle and immediately requested an ambulance.


Johnson County Med-Act and Johnson County Fire District No. 2 reported the driver's injuries to be critical. His injuries are said to include a broken leg.

The vehicle was very heavily damaged in the collision. One source tells Operation 100 News that the vehicle's front bumper was nearly touching the firewall. The tree is said to be 20-25 feet off of the roadway.

The driver has only been identified as a 15-year-old male and Olathe resident. The vehicle involved belongs to his parents and he is believed to have taken off in the car without their permission or knowledge.

Sheriff's Deputies continue to investigate and no other details were immediately available.

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Photos | JoCo man killed in single vehicle rollover crash

Posted: August 26, 2013 - 12:58am
Updated: August 26, 2013 - 5:14am

Photo Credit: Britt Nelson - @BrittJNelson
Used with permission - Scene as of 1:43 a.m.
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The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident this morning on the west side of the Interstate 435 loop.

Shawnee Police say they were called at 12:45 a.m. Monday, regarding an accident on northbound Interstate 435, between Johnson Drive and Holliday Drive.

Police arrived on the scene at 12:49 a.m., followed by the Shawnee Fire Department just a few minutes later.

Additional scene photos shown below this report.

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First responders report the crash scene to be just north of the 53rd Street bridge, near milepost 7.6.

Firefighter/Medics reported a one vehicle accident with very heavy damage. One person reported to be deceased and appeared to have been ejected in the crash.

The Kansas Highway Patrol investigated the accident and has identified the victim as, 52-year-old, Ronald M. Wright of Overland Park.

Troopers say Wright was traveling northbound on Interstate 435, in an unknown lane, when he lost control of his 1993 Chevrolet Blazer. The SUV rolled multiple times, ejecting Mr. Wright. The vehicle then came to rest facing westbound on the right (outside) shoulder of the northbound lanes.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, according to Troopers. Mr. Wright was not wearing a seat belt.

The Kansas Department of Transportation had traffic restricted traffic to only the left lane as the Highway Patrol investigated the crash. All lanes of the highway were reopened shortly after 4 a.m..

Photo Credit: Britt Nelson - @BrittJNelson
Used with permission
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Photo Credit: Britt Nelson - @BrittJNelson
Used with permission
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Photo Credit: Britt Nelson - @BrittJNelson
Used with permission
Click image to view larger

Photo Credit: Britt Nelson - @BrittJNelson
Used with permission
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Early morning accident injures two men | Patrol car struck, officer uninjured

Posted: June 22, 2013 - 4:55am
Updated: June 22, 2013 - 5:51am

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The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating after a three vehicle accident left two people injured this morning in Bonner Springs.

Troopers say accident occurred at 2:40 a.m. in the intersection of southbound Kansas Highway 7 and Kansas Avenue, just over half of a mile south of Interstate 70.

Investigators say a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu was southbound on K-7, ran a red light and struck a 1996 Ford Econoline van, that was eastbound on Kansas Avenue, nearly head on.


The force of the collision ejected the driver of the van onto the highway and knocked the van back and into the front bumper of a Bonner Springs Police patrol vehicle, a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, that was traveling behind the van.

Bonner Springs Fire and EMS reported the ejected driver of the van to be in critical condition at the scene and the driver of the car to be seriously injured. The police officer did not report any injuries.

Troopers have identified the driver of the Chevrolet Malibu as, 41-year-old, Erin Jantz of Olathe, Kansas. The driver of the Ford Econoline is, 50-year-old, Monto Cauthron of Kansas City, Kansas. The Bonner Springs Police officer is, 24-year-old, John Marino of Lawrence, Kansas.

The Highway Patrol's accident report says that Mr. Jantz and Officer Marino were both wearing seatbelts when the accident occurred. Mr. Cauthron was not wearing a seatbelt.

Troopers continue to investigate if alcohol may have played a role in the accident's cause.

An additional EMS unit from the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department assisted on the call and transported one of the injured men.

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Two seriously injured in single vehicle accident

Posted: July 23, 2012 5:55am
Updated: July 23, 2012 - 6:22am

Shawnee Police are investigating after a single vehicle accident occurred in the 5400 block of Quivira Road around 5:50 Monday morning.

Shawnee Fire arrived on scene to report a Sport Utility Vehicle had left the roadway and struck a tree. The vehicle sustained "moderate to heavy damage" according to the Fire Department.

Johnson County Med-Act reported one person critically injured and another was seriously injured.

Initial information from a source familiar with the accident indicates that both victims are not believed to have been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, the passenger was reportedly partially ejected. Both of the injured are believed to be in their early 20's.

Shawnee Police continue to investigate the cause of the accident and what role alcohol may have played in it's cause.

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Two fatal and two others critically injured in Kansas City crash

Posted: July 8, 2012 - 3:50am
Updated: July 8, 2012 - 10:53pm

Update: The Kansas Highway Patrol says that a Roeland Park Police Officers spotted a vehicle driving around, acting suspicious in the Walmart parking lot. The Officer followed the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to yield to the officer, and continued northbound on Roe lane at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control of the SUV on a curve and crashed into a bridge pillar. All seven occupants were ejected from the vehicle, which caught fire and burned.

Authorities have identified the two fatalities as; 19-year-old Alexis J. Medina and 18-year-old Karla Robledo, both of Kansas City, Missouri. Medina was pronounced deceased at the crash scene, Robledo was transported to an area hospital where she later died.

The other victims range in age from 15 to 19 years of age. Troopers say no one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt.

Original Story:

Shortly after 3 a.m. Roeland Park Police reported a vehicle at a high rate of speed northbound on Roe Lane approaching County Line Road. The officer reported that the vehicle failed to yield for him and that he was not in pursuit of the vehicle. The officer requested that dispatchers notify Kansas City, Kansas Police. Seconds later the Roeland Park officer reported the vehicle had crashed on Roe Lane under Interstate 35. Officers immediately requested an emergency response from Kansas City, Kansas Fire and EMS for several ejections and a car fire.

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Accident scene is on Roe Lane under Interstate 35
Traffic on Roe Boulevard/18th Street Expressway is not effected

Kansas City, Kansas Fire initially dispatched a two fire apparatus response for a car fire at the location, that response was then upgraded to include a Shift Commander and one ambulance. The first fire apparatus to arrive reported one vehicle "fully involved" with fire. A short time later Incident Command requested a total of five ambulances to the scene. Police say six of the vehicle's seven occupants were ejected during the crash.

One male was pronounced deceased at the scene. A female, said to be in her "late teens", was transported from the scene with extremely critical injuries, she has since passed away at an area hospital. Two others remain in critical condition. A total of five people were transported by KCK EMS from the scene to area hospitals.

Victim's ages are said to range from 15 to mid 20's and include both males and females. Investigators from the Kansas Highway Patrol say only one vehicle was involved.

The Highway Patrol continues to investigate the accident.

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One person critically injured in violent crash

Posted: May 8, 2012 - 2:19am
Updated: May 8, 2012 - 8:26am

The Overland Park Police Department's Traffic Unit is investigating after a driver was critically injured in a rollover accident near 87th Street and Conser Street around 2:15 a.m., Tuesday.

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Police arrived on the scene, about two minutes after being dispatched, to find one vehicle on its roof and the driver partially ejected from the rolled Jeep Cherokee. An Overland Park Fire Department unit arrived and reported heavy damage to the vehicle. Fire crews worked about 20 minutes to extricate the critically injured driver, who was partially pinned under the overturned Jeep.


Police say the Jeep Cherokee was stolen, sometime overnight, from an address in Overland Park. The same Jeep was also involved in a hit and run accident, of at least one parked car, in the 8300 block of Robinson Street. A witness to that crash then followed the suspect. That witness tells Police that the suspect turned off all of the vehicles lights and tried to speed away. The suspect attempted to turn eastbound on 87th Street from Robinson when the vehicle rolled over.

The driver has only been identified as a male in his 20's with extremely critical injuries. Officers say the man did not have any form of identification with him.

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Two men injured after pickup collides with tractor trailer

Posted: April 6, 2012 - 2:02am
Updated: September 17, 2012 - 4:27am

Latest: According to the family's caringbridge.org page, crash victim Dyllon Butrick, passed away on September 12, 2012. Link to the Dyllon Butrick caringbridge page for further details.

Update: Last updated April 6, 2012 - 9:27am The Kansas Highway Patrol's initial accident report says a 1992 Nissan Pickup was traveling westbound on U.S. 24 Highway, one-quarter of a mile east of Perry. The pickup pulled onto the shoulder. A westbound 2007 Kenworth Semi-truck approached the stopped pickup and moved into the eastbound lane to pass the stopped pickup truck. At the same time the pickup truck pulled back onto the roadway and attempted to make a U-Turn, crashing into the semi-truck.

Investigators say the pickup truck was occupied by two men; 19-year-old, Gary Koelliker, of Highland, Kansas was reported to have been the driver with 20-year-old Dyllon Butrick, of White Cloud, Kansas as a passenger.

Troopers say both men were not wearing seat belts when the crash occurred and they were ejected when the pickup rolled. Both men reportedly suffered life threatening injuries. Koelliker was transported by Jefferson County EMS to Stormont-Vail in Topeka. Butrick was flow to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

The driver of the semi-truck, a 39-year-old South Bend, Indiana man, was not injured in the accident.

As of this report, Troopers say they are still investigating if alcohol or any other impairment played a role in causing the accident. No updates were available on either of the injured men's conditions.

Original Post: Last updated April 6, 2012 - 8:45am

The accident was reported at 1:44 a.m. on U.S. Highway 24 just west of U.S. Highway 59, between Williamstown and Perry in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says that a pickup truck and a tractor trailer collided. Crews on the scene report two people critically injured after they were both ejected.

Crews initially requested that two helicopters respond for transport. LifeStar was sent to the scene from Lawrence and the next closest, available helicopter would have been LifeFlight Eagle, more than 30 minutes from the scene. LifeFlight Eagle was cancelled at that time.

One person was transported to Stormont-Vail in Topeka by Jefferson County EMS. LifeStar transported the second person to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Both victims are said to have suffered head injuries.

KDOT closed all lanes of U.S. Highway 24 between Williamstown and Perry. All westbound traffic was redirected to northbound U.S. Highway 59. Eastbound traffic is blocked at Lecompton Road.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office was also on the scene assisting with traffic control. The Kansas Highway Patrol's Accident Reconstruction Team assisted with investigating the accident.

All lanes were reopened to traffic as 8 a.m. Friday morning.

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Man and woman killed in violent crash on I-35

Posted: January 31, 2012 - 1:46am
Updated: February 2, 2012 - 1:02pm

The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating after an early morning accident claimed the lives of two people in southern Johnson County.

Johnson County Sheriff's Deputies and Johnson County Fire District No. 1 were called to respond on an injury accident on southbound Interstate 35 between Moonlight road and Gardner road in Gardner. The incident was dispatched just after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Sheriff's Deputies requested that the Kansas Highway Patrol's Accident Team respond to investigate the accident.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says that at 1:33 a.m., Tuesday, a 1993 Toyota Corolla, traveling southbound, left the highway for an unknown reason. The Corolla then came back onto the highway, began to roll ejecting both occupants onto the highway. A 2006 Dodge Caravan, also traveling southbound, then struck the Corolla before striking the ejected driver who was laying on the highway.

Investigators have released that the Toyota Corolla was being driven by 32-year-old, Jason R. Mees of Hiawatha, Kansas. His passenger was identified as 32-year-old, Jennifer D. Curbow of Edgerton, Kansas.

Both Mees and Curbow were pronounced dead at the scene. No one in the Corolla was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

No one in the mini-van was injured.

Southbound lanes of Interstate 35 were reopened at 5:51 a.m.. They had been closed since the accident occurred, just over five hours earlier.

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Sheriff's Office vehicle pursuit leaves one dead

Posted: November 20, 2011 - 2:17am

Updated: November 20, 2011 - 3:50pm

UPDATE: This afternoon, the deceased driver has been identified as 21-year-old, Clayton R. Kessler of Hillsdale, Kansas. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the accident.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a fatality accident on southbound US 169 Highway at 215th Street in Spring Hill. Just before the crash, Deputies were in pursuit of a vehicle which one Deputy reported was "in excess of 140 miles per hour".

Seconds prior to the crash, Johnson County Deputies disregarded chasing the suspect vehicle, only described as a "Dodge Neon SRT-4". The vehicle is reported to have rolled several times and came to rest upside down. When the first Deputy arrived at the vehicle it was reported that the driver had been ejected from the vehicle. Johnson County Fire District 2 units were dispatched to the scene along with Johnson County Med-Act and Miami County EMS. 

After approximately 20 minutes of searching the area a subject was found, matching the description of the registered vehicle owner. That person was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash also sparked a grass fire, which was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

As of 2:30 a.m., crews remain at the scene, investigating and working to confirm that there was only one occupant in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Southbound lanes of US-169 Highway is expected to remain closed until 8 or 8:30 a.m., according to an Emergency Dispatcher.

No further information was immediately available.

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One critically injured after rollover accident in Lenexa

Posted: October 24, 2011 - 3:02am

Lenexa Police are investigating a single vehicle rollover injury accident this morning in the 8600 block of Lenexa Drive.

The accident is said to have occurred around 2:45 a.m. Monday morning. A man, described as being in his "mid to late 20's", was the only occupant of the vehicle and was ejected onto the roadway. He was transported to a local trauma center and said to be in critical condition.

No other information was immediately available from Police.


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Rollover accident leaves two injured in Overland Park

At 1:12 a.m. Saturday morning, the Overland Park Fire Department was dispatched to investigate a rollover traffic accident with a reported ejection on eastbound Interstate 435 between Nall Avenue and Roe Avenue.

Units arrived on scene to find a vehicle overturned which came to rest on its roof. Firefighters quickly discovered that there were two subjects injured, one is believed to have been ejected from the vehicle. Both subjects are said to have suffered serious injuries.

Initial reports indicate that the driver possibly fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle rolled and the unrestrained passenger was ejected.

Two lanes of eastbound Interstate 435 were closed while emergency crews were on scene.

No information about the victims has been released as the accident remains under investigation.