MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Kan. — A devastating multi-vehicle collision claimed the lives of two drivers on Monday afternoon in Montgomery County, authorities confirmed.
According to official reports from the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), the fatal accident transpired shortly after 2:30 p.m. along 1800 County Road 3900. Investigators state that a 2022 Dodge Charger, driven by Michael N. Swanzy, 37, of Independence, Kansas, was traveling northbound when the vehicle veered left of the center line.
As the Dodge Charger crossed into oncoming traffic, it initially side-swiped a southbound 2012 Nissan Altima operated by Brandon S. Macrae, 38, of Wann, Oklahoma. Following the initial side-swipe, Swanzy’s vehicle continued traveling on the wrong side of the roadway, resulting in a violent, head-on collision with a southbound 2019 Diamond Coach General Transportation bus.
The driver of the transportation bus was identified by state troopers as Timothy W. Housel, 67, of South Coffeyville.
Both Swanzy and Housel sustained fatal injuries in the impact. Emergency medical personnel pronounced both men dead at the scene. Their bodies were subsequently transported to the Webb & Rodrick Chapel & Crematory.
Macrae, the driver of the side-swiped Nissan Altima, escaped the incident without injury.
The KHP crash log noted that all three drivers involved in the wreck were properly restrained with seatbelts at the time of the collision. The highway remained partially closed for several hours Monday evening as specialized teams conducted a thorough accident reconstruction and cleared the heavy debris from the roadway.
