ACCIDENTS

REPORTED

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

SHERIFF

K-256/Remington Rd. south of US-56

A revised accident report, released Friday, clarifies that a 16-year-old, not a former county commissioner, appeared to have been responsible for an accident in which one vehicle rear-ended another at 1:49 p.m. July 31.

According to the revised report, former commissioner Dianne R. Novak, 71, rural Tampa, had turned her 2009 Toyota Tacoma south onto K-256 when it was rear-ended by a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze.

The Chevy, owned and driven by Sydney A. Smith, 16, rural Marion, had been southbound on Remington Rd., stopped at US-56, then continued south on K-256, hitting Novak’s truck 150 feet south of the intersection.

With damage to its entire front half and undercarriage, the Chevy was towed. Novak’s Toyota sustained damage to its rear quarter but remained drivable.

Smith is listed as possibly having been injured but was not taken to a hospital.

Deputy Jesse Raney blamed the accident on inattentive driving by Smith. Confusion appears to have been caused by the order in which drivers and vehicles were listed and numbered in the report. Some confusion continues to exist in the revised report.

US-77 north of Wagon Wheel Rd.

Travis L. Wells, 54, Goddard, hit a deer at 9:29 p.m. Aug. 17 with his 2019 Honda CR-V, which sustained disabling damage to its front third and undercarriage and was towed, according to a report released Friday.

190th Rd. west of Old Mill Rd.

The cause of an accident at 3:14 a.m. Aug. 18 in which a 1989 Chevrolet S-10 veered off the right side of the road, traveled through a ditch, and struck a utility pole remains unclear, according to a report released Friday.

No adverse weather or road conditions are itemized in the report. Code numbers and check boxes blame the accident on an unknown problem with the road and indicate that driver James R. Spohn, 25, Marion, had been drinking. But they also indicate that no evidence of impairment was present after a coordination test was administered.

Spohn’s pickup, owned by Barbara J. Spohn of rural Tampa, sustained disabling damage to its front, right, and hood and was towed.

Indigo Rd. north of 100th Rd.

Sharon K. German, 63, Hillsboro, hit a deer at 8:34 p.m. Aug. 22 with her 2006 Buick LaCrosse, which remained drivable with damage to its right front and hood.

US-56/77 north of
US-56/77/K-150 roundabout

A 2012 Chevrolet Traverse slowing to enter the roundabout was rear-ended at 7:50 a.m. Aug. 28 by a 2024 Honda Civic.

A report by deputy Kaylan Miles states that Honda driver Marcus A. Jack, 18, Wichita, had been following the other driver, George A. Miller, 52, rural Lost Springs, too closely and had been inattentive. However, no tickets were listed as being issued.

Damage to the Chevy, owned by Jennifer Miller of the same rural Lincolnville address, was characterized as minor. Two others — Emery and Taymen Miller of the same address — were passengers at the time. For legally unjustified reasons, their ages were redacted from the open public record of the accident.

Jack’s Honda also remained drivable with more extensive damage its front and hood.

Upland Rd. south of K-256

Suspected of being under the influence drugs, Julie N. Salas, 44, McPherson, drove a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu off the left side of the road at 2:57 p.m. Friday and into a hay bale 300 yards off the road north of Marion Municipal Airport before crashing into a drainage ditch.

According to deputy Landis Goodman’s report, Salas had been using drugs and initially refused to be tested. Results of a test eventually administered are pending.

Her car, owned by Brandon J. Liechty of Hesston, sustained disabling damage to its front third, undercarriage, hood, windshield, windows, and top and was towed.

Marion ambulance was called to check her condition, but she declined to be taken to a hospital. She instead was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She was released seven hours later after posting a $2,500 bond.

HILLSBORO

Lincoln St. east of Grand Ave.

Randall S. Decker, 67, Hillsboro, backed his 2019 Toyota Corolla out of his driveway at 7:40 a.m. Thursday and into the rear of a southbound 2022 Chevrolet Equinox owned and driven by Wallace R. Telford IV, 74, Aransas, Texas.

Decker’s Toyota remained drivable with damage to its left rear. Damage to the rear of Telford’s Chevrolet was characterized as minor.

Officer David Funk’s report blames the collision on Decker driving inattentively and failing to yield. No tickets were listed as being issued.