ACCIDENTS

REPORTED

These accident reports were released this past week by law enforcement agencies:

SHERIFF

US-50 west of Upland Rd.

Truck driver Mathew G. Smith Jr., 36, Topeka, hit a patch of slush at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 and pulled a semi-trailer owned by National Carrier Inc. of Liberal into the driver’s side ditch, where the trailer turned onto its side.

Deputy Travis Wilson’s report said Smith might have been driving too fast for conditions, but no tickets were issued. The trailer had to be towed.

Old Mill Rd. north of 20th Rd.

Distracted by his cell phone while driving on snow-covered roads at 8:01 p.m. Feb. 18, Matthew F. Epp, 38, rural Elbing, drove an Epp Service Inc. 2020 International semi-trailer tractor first into one ditch and then into the other, hitting a road sign and tipping the truck onto its side, according to deputy Matthew Regier’s report.

No injuries were reported, nor were any tickets issued, but the truck had to be towed.

K-15 north of 260th Rd.

While attempting to avoid a deer at 7:12 p.m. Feb. 21, Chandler J. Rauth, 23, Hutchinson, drove a 2003 Kenworth semi-trailer truck into a mailbox on the right side of the road and then a ditch on the left side of the road.

Damage to the semi, which Rauth was driving for owner Arlyn W. Wiebe of rural Tampa, was reported to be minor. Rauth was able to back out of the ditch.

No indication was provided about the extent of damage to the mailbox, owned by Lawrence R. Blecha of rural Hillsboro.

US-77 north of 110th Rd.

Fred A. Mueller, 61, Burns, hit a deer at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 23 with his 2012 GMC Sierra. Damage to the truck was described as minor. Caleb L. Hale, 30, Wichita, was a passenger at the time.