ACCIDENTS

REPORTED

These accident reports were released this past week by law enforcement agencies:

SHERIFF

190th and Quail Creek Rds.

A preliminary report released Monday blames strong winds for an accident at 3:05 p.m. March 6 that claimed the life of 5-year-old Harper R. Bryant of rural Marion.

According to the report, Harper’s brother, 15-year-old Landon M. Bryant of the same address, told deputies a wind gust knocked his eastbound 2003 Toyota Corolla off the right side of 190th and he was unable to get it back on the road before the Toyota slammed into a concrete culvert and sign.

Weather records indicate gusts of 30 mph were recorded in the area at the time of the accident.

Both Harper and her 10-year-old sister, Emmarie T. Bryant of the same address, were taken by helicopter ambulances to Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. Harper died there five days later.

Both girls were in the back seat — Harper in a child safety seat and Emmarie wearing a seat belt. Landon, who was driving with a farm permit, was not using a seat belt, according to deputy Kaylan Miles’s report, which listed Landon as complying with his permit’s restrictions.

Landon also was listed as injured, but the report does not indicate whether he was taken to a hospital.

The car, owned by the children’s mother, Stephanie A. Bryant of the same address, was destroyed.

HILLSBORO

Western Heights Circle east of Orchard Dr.

A hit-and-run driver damaged a fire hydrant, probably around 6:40 a.m. Thursday, when a witness saw a red semi-trailer truck pulling an Amazon.com trailer in the area. Video surveillance captured an image of an unknown person approaching the damaged hydrant then leaving.

MARION

Lincoln St. south of Main St.

Blake D. Kaiser, 17, rural Marion, backed his 2014 Chevrolet Silverado C15 out of a Marion High School parking space at 1 p.m. Monday and into a southbound 2019 Ford F-150 owned and driven by Steven A. Ewing, rural Emporia.

Interim police chief Duane McCarty’s report blamed the accident on inattentive driving and improper backing by Kaiser, but no tickets were issued.

Both pickups remained drivable with damage termed moderate.