NEMAHA COUNTY, Kan. — At least nine people were injured Friday afternoon following a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 36 in Nemaha County, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred around 4:09 p.m. near milepost 331.5 when a westbound 2013 Ford F-150 drifted left of center for unknown reasons and collided head-on with an eastbound 2007 Ford Econoline van.
The Ford F-150 was occupied by two people. The driver, 71-year-old Timothy Wanklyn of Frankfort, was transported to a local hospital with suspected serious injuries. A 25-year-old male passenger, also from Frankfort, was taken to the hospital with suspected serious injuries. Both occupants were reported to be wearing safety restraints.
There were 11 individuals traveling in the Ford Econoline. The driver, 28-year-old Gilver Caceres of Topeka, was taken to a local hospital with suspected serious injuries and was wearing a seatbelt.
Two female passengers, ages 25 and 33, were also transported to a local hospital with suspected serious injuries. Authorities noted that one of the females was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the crash.
Four male passengers, ages 29, 42, 24, and 44, were taken to local hospitals with suspected serious injuries. One of the males was reported to not be wearing a seatbelt.
Kansas Highway Patrol officials also reported that four additional occupants of the Ford Econoline — three males and one female, all from Topeka — left the scene prior to emergency responders’ arrival. Their injury status and whether they were wearing safety restraints remain unknown.
The crash remains under investigation. More details are available in the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log Report.
