Witnesses saw 3rd driver at fatality
Staff writer
More than a week after an Oct. 10 crash near Peabody that killed two people and injured two others, the crash remains under investigation by the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Troop captain Bruce Hyman said detectives were still actively investigating the circumstances of the accident and the patrol’s report is not considered complete.
Hyman would not specify the reason why investigation is ongoing.
Witnesses reportedly told troopers that a third car drove into the wrong lane of US-50, which caused Luke P. Richmeier, 18, Wichita, to make an evasive maneuver to avoid it.
The driver of the car that forced Richmeier to swerve out of its way reportedly drove off from the scene of the accident without stopping.
Richmeier’s 2000 Silverado went off the road. He over-corrected and came back onto the roadway into oncoming traffic.
His Silverado hit a 2018 Ford Escape driven by Latricia A. Phillips, 49, Wichita.
Phillips and passenger Angela M. Daniels, 49, Wichita, both died at the scene.
Korey R. Woods, 36, Wichita, another passenger in the Escape, was flown to University of Kansas Medical Center with suspected serious injuries.
Richmeier was taken to Newton Medical Center for treatment of suspected minor injuries.
Ambulances from Hillsboro, Marion, Peabody and Florence came to the scene. Firefighters and rescue squads came from Peabody and Florence.
Besides troopers, sheriff’s deputies helped with the accident and helped provide traffic control. Traffic was backed up for miles on US-50.