Hays, KS (April 7, 2024) – There were multiple injuries reported after a multi-vehicle collision in the Hays area on Saturday, April 6. The collision occurred on Interstate 70 EB near mile marker 162 that afternoon around 2:42 p.m. Local reports revealed that there was impaired visibility due to a dust storm on the roadway at the time of the crash.
It was reported that a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox driven by 56-year-old Keith Dechant of Hays was headed eastbound when it collided with the rear of a 2017 Nissan Frontier pickup truck driven by 68-year-old Charles R. Lehman of Central City, CO. Lehman was reportedly slowing due to impaired visibility caused by the dust storm when he was hit from behind. After the initial impact, Lehman was then hit again by a 2018 Tesla Model 3 driven by 29-year-old Daniel S. Hartman of Mill Valley, CA.
Three occupants in the Nissan were hurt in the crash and transferred to Hays Medical Center for treatment of sustained injuries. The injured parties were later identified as 57-year-old Brenda M. Dechant, 83-year-old James H. Girvan, and 79-year-old Janice M. Girvan, all from Hays. No other injuries were reported in the collision. An ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident is being managed by local law enforcement officials.
Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families at this time. We hope for their full recovery.
Kansas Car Accidents
You are never completely safe when sharing the road with another driver, and every day, serious collisions cause unjustified injuries to a large number of Kansas citizens. According to data from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), there has been a nearly 2 percent increase in traffic injuries during the same period last year. In 2023, 13,132 injuries were reported on the state’s roadways, up 12,874 from the previous year.
Residents of the state continue to suffer the majority of fatalities and serious injuries from car accidents, so you should be prepared to file a lawsuit if you or a loved one is hurt due to another person’s negligence. Call a Hays car crash lawyer at Bretz Injury Law today at 620-524-0080.
