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.

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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April 3rd - Spring General Elections in Johnson County

Posted: April 3, 2012 - 2:30am

Today is the Spring General election in several cities in Johnson County. Cities of Leawood, Mission, Prairie Village and Westwood will all go to the polls today. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m..

Leawood and Mission voters will elect four Council Members to four year terms. Prairie Village voters will elect six Council Members to four year terms. Shawnee voters will elect a Mayor and four Council Members to three year terms due to an ongoing transition to an odd year election cycle. Westwood voters will elect a Mayor and two Council Members At-Large to four year terms.

For more information regarding candidates and to view your sample ballot visit the Johnson County Election Office's website.


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Car vs train accident kills one person north of Lawrence

Posted: April 2, 2012 - 2:29am
Updated: April 3, 2012 - 2:34am

Around 2:20 a.m. Douglas County Emergency Dispatchers received a report of a car versus train injury accident north of Lawrence. The accident occurred just west of the U.S. Highway 24-40 and U.S. 24-59, which is known as Tee Pee Junction. The accident scene is just before the entrance to Riverfront Park.

Sheriff's Deputies arrived and, upon locating the involved vehicle, immediately reported that one person was deceased. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical has since confirmed that the one occupant is deceased. Emergency crews report that with the train's crew, they have walked the length of the train and confirmed that only one person was in the vehicle at the time of the crash.

The involved train was reportedly a southbound Union Pacific "coal train" which struck the victim's vehicle on the passengers side as it was traveling westbound, crossing between the railroad gates. No one on the train reported being injured.

Initial reports indicated that the train's conductor witnessed the vehicle drive around the crossing gates just before the accident.

The victim has be identified as, 40-year-old, Aimee Ziegler of Lawrence. The Lawrence Journal-World reports Ziegler was a counselor at Lawrence Free State High School.

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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Tidy Town 2012 dates announced for Shawnee residents

Posted: April 1, 2012 - 4:06am

The city of Shawnee recently announced that their annual large item pick up will take place on Saturday, April 28th for residents east of Pflumm Road and on Saturday, May 5th for those who live west of Pflumm Road.

Individual trash haulers are responsible for picking up all items and the service is included in your basic rate. Hazardous materials such as; car batteries, paints, solvents, or liquid waste will not be picked up. Call the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment for disposal of these items at (913)715-6900.

Trash haulers will pick up all items that they accept and that look like they are out for collection. The city reminds residents to remove items that you want to keep, basketball goals, containers you intend on keeping, etc. from the curb during your collection day.

Deffenbaugh customers are reminded that you will need to set one of your Deffenbaugh carts curbside so they know to pick up your items. Deffenbaugh customers without a cart curbside will not have their items collected

Contact your trash hauler for any specific instructions that they might have and a list of items that they will pick up.


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Attempted murder charge filed in April 1st Lawrence shooting

Posted: April 1, 2012 - 3:44am
Updated: April 12, 2012 - 2:16am

Update: According to my reporting partners at the Lawrence Journal-World, Douglas County prosecutors have filed an attempted intentional second-degree murder charge against William J. Verner. Verner is a 27-year-old Lawrence resident.

Verner turned himself in to the Douglas County Jail at 6 a.m. Wednesday, where he is also being held for outstanding traffic warrants. A Douglas County judge set Verner's bond at $75,000 cash or surety in the shooting case. His next hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, April 18th.

Read the full report from the Lawrence Journal-World


Original Story: Last updated; April 1, 2012 - 5:16am
Police in Lawrence are investigating after an early morning shooting leaves one man with a serious gunshot wound. The call was dispatched just before 3:25 a.m. in the 1300 block of Michigan Way. One caller to 911 reported a subject in the road with a single gunshot wound. Officers arrived on scene a short time later and confirmed that a man had sustained a critical gunshot wound to the left leg.

After officers had secured the scene, LDCFM entered to treat the patient and reported the "early 20's" male's injuries to be serious. The man was transported to LMH.

Officers continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and have not released any further information as of this report. There has not been any information released on a possible suspect.

Around 5 a.m., the male victim was transported from LMH to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

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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