Elkhart, KS (March 26, 2024) – Slick roads resulted in a deadly crash in the Elkhart area on Monday, March 25. The deadly accident was reported on US-56 that afternoon at around 1:15 p.m. Local sources revealed that a 2011 Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling eastbound on the highway when it hit a patch of ice and crossed the centerline.
The truck collided head-on with a westbound 2018 GMC Terrain sport utility vehicle (SUV). A passenger in the GMC, 64-year-old Loretta M. Panther of Iowa City, IA, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV, 32-year-old Emily M. Panther of Milwaukee, WI, was taken to Morton County Hospital in serious condition. Another GMC passenger, 33-year-old Jared A. Leppert of Milwaukee, WI, was also hospitalized.
The driver of the Ford, 35-year-old Amandra K. Vanzant of Elkhart, was seriously hurt and transported to a hospital for treatment. No further information on the deadly crash is currently available. An ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident is being handled 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.
Fatal Head-on Collisions in Kansas
Driving is already dangerous enough, and car crashes happen every day in Kansas. Certain types of accidents are much more likely to result in serious injuries. When two vehicles traveling in opposite directions crash, it is known as a head-on collision. For obvious reasons, these types of accidents are more likely to be fatal. Despite making up less than 2 percent of reported crashes in the United States, head-on impacts contribute to nearly 10 percent of traffic fatalities across the country. According to findings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), head-on crashes have an almost 56 percent fatality rate. You need to consult with a trained Elkhart wrongful death lawyer in order to pursue full compensation after a deadly crash. Contact the offices of Bretz Injury Law today at 620-524-0038.
