Independence, KS (April 8, 2024) – On Sunday, April 7, a teenager was killed following a head-on crash in the Independence area. The deadly accident was reported on US-160 EB early that morning around 1:30 a.m. Local reports revealed that an 18-year-old from Liberty was traveling eastbound in a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck leading up to the incident.
The pickup truck traveled left of center on the highway and veered into oncoming traffic where it collided head-on with a westbound 2017 Dodge Charger driven by 26-year-old Justin Dean Ward of Independence, a sheriff’s deputy with Montgomery County. The pickup then hit a westbound 2022 Dodge Durango driven by 28-year-old Zachary Clyde Farmer also from Independence, also a sheriff’s deputy.
The teen driving the Chevy suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Ward was transferred by ambulance to Ascension St. Johns Hospital in Tulsa, OK, for treatment. A passenger in the Silverado, 18-year-old Amir Luten, and Farmer were also injured and transported to Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. No additional information on the deadly crash is currently available. An ongoing investigation into the accident is being managed by local law enforcement officials.
We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased victim at this time. Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families in hopes of a full recovery.
Head-on Collisions in Kansas
Compared to other types of vehicle collisions, head-on crashes are much more likely to cause fatal injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that these kinds of crashes have a fatality rate of nearly 56 percent, much greater than other types of crashes. These collisions tend to be caused by careless drivers who swerve into oncoming traffic, but they can also occasionally be brought on by poor road conditions.
With the assistance of an experienced Independence car crash attorney, you can be able to pursue lost compensation through the filing of a personal injury claim after a serious crash. The legal team at Bretz Injury Law is here to fight for your full recovery. Contact our law offices today at 620-524-0080.
