Great Bend, KS (June 24, 2024) – There were several confirmed injuries after a two-vehicle collision in the Great Bend area on Sunday, June 23. The accident took place at the corner of K-156 and US-56 that afternoon around 2:25 p.m. Local reports revealed that 71-year-old Dan A. Weippert of Garden City was traveling westbound on K-156 in a 2016 GMC Yukon while 21-year-old Skyler L. Bergelt of Fort Bliss, TX, was heading eastbound in a 2019 Ford Fiesta.
Bergelt was attempting to pass a semi-truck, causing Weippert to swerve into a north ditch. Both vehicles collided head-on on the shoulder. Both vehicles came to a rest in the ditch. Both drivers were injured in the crash, along with a passenger in the Yukon, identified as 64-year-old Julie K. Weippert of Garden City. Bergetl was transported by ambulance to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. The other victims were transferred to the University of Kansas Health Systems – Great Bend Campus. No further updates on the incident are currently available. An ongoing investigation into the cause of the incident is in progress.
Our thoughts are with Dan A. Weippert, Julie K. Weippert, Skyler L. Bergelt, and their families at this time. We hope for their full recovery.
Head-on Collisions in Kansas
Head-on collisions are much more likely to cause fatal injuries. According to estimates from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), these crashes have a fatality rate of roughly 56 percent, which is significantly higher than that of other kinds of auto accidents. These accidents are typically caused by careless drivers who swerve into oncoming traffic, but other things like broken-down cars or bad road conditions can also play a part. Crashing into someone head-on can prove fatal, and at the very least, there is a strong chance of serious injuries. Even though these accidents account for less than 2 percent of all recorded crashes in the country, they are responsible for over 10 percent of all reported traffic deaths each year. A Great Bend car accident attorney at Bretz Injury Law is ready to fight. Call us today at 620-524-0080.
