Staff writer
A head-on collision killed two passengers in a Nissan passenger car Friday at mile marker 322.8, four miles south of Herington, at about 11:43 p.m. on Friday.
Bryan K. Alfred, 21 of Junction City drove the Nissan south on U.S. 77. The car veered into the northbound lane and struck a 2008 Chevy pickup truck, according to Kansas Highway Patrolman Ben Gardner and the report submitted by the Kansas Highway patrol. The brunt of the accident was delivered on the passenger side of both vehicles. The Nissan turned around, flipped over completely at least once, and landed in the eastern ditch along the roadway.
All three passengers and the driver of the Nissan were ejected from the vehicle. Amber L. Alfred, 20 of Junction City was declared dead at the scene. Josiah Alfred, 2, of Junction City was transported to Herington Hospital but also died. Bryan K. Alfred and Keith Johnson, 6 of Junction City were transported by LifeTeam helicopter to Saint Francis Hospital in Wichita.
“People that are thrown from a vehicle are four times more likely to die,” Kansas Highway Patrol officer Ben Gardner said. “The majority of fatality accidents are in rollovers.”
Toby L. Biehler, 41, of Herington was driving the pickup truck. Austin Roberts, 23, Ty Morris, 16, and Seth Biehler, 17, all of Herington were all transported with the driver to Herington Hospital.
The highway was littered with debris after the accident, including the mostly intact engine from the Nissan. There was no evidence of skid marks from either vehicle applying the brakes.
“Certainly head-on collisions are not typical, but they do occur,” Gardner said.
Marion County ambulances and first responders from Lost Springs, Tampa, and Marion responded to the accident, just south of the county line.
Commissioner Randy Dallke suggested at the Marion County Commission meeting Monday that the commission send a letter to Dickinson County officials asking assistance from a Herington ambulance on calls so close to the border.