ACCIDENTS
REPORTED
These accident reports were released this past week by law enforcement agencies:
SHERIFF
US-50 east of Alfalfa Rd.
While attempting to pass a semi at 3:10 p.m. Oct. 2, a teenage driver from Illinois swerved left into a ditch to avoid an oncoming vehicle.
Driver Christopher A. Smith, 19, Park Forest, Illinois, lost control of his 1998 Ford Windstar on the left shoulder’s gravel. His Windstar flipped onto its roof in a creek.
Smith did not report injury, but passenger Vederek A. Ward-Summers, also 19, of Richton Park, Illinois, reported nausea and collarbone pain. He was checked by Marion ambulance attendants but declined to be taken to a hospital.
Deputy Kaylan Miles blamed the accident on inattentive driving by Smith and poor condition of the shoulder. No tickets were issued.
The Windstar, which was towed, was listed as destroyed.
K-15 south of 140th Rd.
Beatriz Torrez, 57, Houston, hit a deer at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 5 with her 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage, which remained functional.
US-56/K-15 east of Falcon Rd.
Both drivers and a passenger were injured, but none was taken to a hospital, after a 2017 Hyundai Sonata rear-ended a turning 2021 GMC Sierra at 3:31 p.m. Oct. 6.
Deputy Kaylan Miles’s report blamed the accident on inattentive driving by the Sonata’s driver, 16-year-old Sophia I. Luna of McPherson, who was driving with a farm permit. No tickets were issued.
The Sonata, owned by Jamey E. Luna of Lincolnville, and the Sierra, owned and driven by Dennis J. Murphy, 65, of rural Atlantic, Iowa, were towed.
Mary Beth Murphy, 69, of the same Iowa address was a passenger in the Sierra.
Hillsboro, Marion, and Tampa ambulances and Hillsboro firefighters and rescue squad members were called. One of the ambulances waited until a parent of the 16-year-old driver arrived.
US-77 south of 230th Rd.
Randy G. Winkle, 60, El Dorado, hit a deer at 11:32 a.m. Oct. 6 with his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado, which sustained damage to the right side and windshield but remained functional.
K-15 north of 140th Rd.
James K. Christensen, 82, rural Marion, hit a deer at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 8 with his 2020 Chevrolet Equinox, which sustained disabling damage and was towed.
US-50 west of Wagon Wheel Rd.
William C. Wilburn, 56, Hardtner, hit a deer at 11:18 p.m. Oct. 9 with his 2018 Ford F-150, which remained functional.
Kanza Rd. north of 270th Rd.
Jason W. Hall, 33, Tampa, hit a deer at 7:31 p.m. Oct. 10 while driving a 2008 Volkwagen Tiguan owned by passenger Taylor Gill, 26, of the same address.
Children Oliver Wiebe, 4, and Bristol Wiebe, 3, also of the same address, were additional passengers.
Front-end damage to the Tiguan was characterized as minor.
US-50 east of Timber Rd.
Adara F. Edwards, 31, Junction City, hit a deer at 7:10 p.m. Oct. 11 with her 2021 Dodge Durango, which sustained damage to its left rear but remained functional.
Children Mason Edwards, 9, and Madison Edwards, 2, of the same address were passengers in the Durango.
120th Rd. east of Holly Rd.
Tyler D. Hedrick, 24, rural Goessel, hit a deer at 7:19 p.m. Oct. 12 with his 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, which sustained disabling damage to its front and undercarriage and was towed.
HILLSBORO
Ash St. west of B St.
James L. Martens, 69, Hillsboro, was taken to Hillsboro Community Hospital for observation after Abigail E. Sechrist, 23, Hillsboro, backed her 2014 Toyota Corolla out of her driveway and into his motorized wheelchair, knocking him to the street at 8:25 a.m. Oct. 12.
Martens told police he had been traveling to Hillsboro Hometown Pharmacy on the left edge of the street, as required by law, instead of using a sidewalk because the sidewalk was in disrepair.
Officer John Huebert’s report assigned no blame, and no citations were issued.
Jefferson St. north of A St.
Maria N. Pohlmann, 16, Hillsboro, backed a 1999 Toyota Tacoma out of a diagonal parking space at Hillsboro High School at 6:25 p.m. Friday and into the side of a legally parked 2013 Toyota Camry across the street.
Another 16-year-old, Jaylin Latham of rural Lehigh, was a passenger in the Tacoma, owned by Jenny Pohlman of the driver’s Hillsboro address.
Damage to the Tacoma was rated as minor. Damage to the Camry, owned by Grant A. Shewey of Hillsboro, was listed as more extensive, but the car remained functional.
Assistant chief Randy Brazil’s report blamed the accident on improper backing, but no ticket was issued.
Parking lot at 118 E. Grand Ave.
Edward Fickes, 68, rural Hillsboro, backed his 2001 Chevrolet Impala out of a city hall parking space at 8:37 p.m. Saturday and into an unoccupied 2017 Mazda 3, owned by Chad Brentlinger of Hillsboro and legally parked in a stall opposite the Impala.
No citations were issued.
