Russell, KS (July 17, 2024) – A driver and passenger were injured after a two-vehicle collision in the Russell area on Tuesday, July 16. The accident was reported on Interstate 70 near mile marker 177 around 11:15 a.m. Local reports revealed that 18-year-old Christopher T. Ford of Hillsboro, MO was driving a 2004 Dodge Neon headed westbound on the interstate in the passing lane at the time of the crash.
Ford was nearing a 2023 Kensworth semi-truck operated by 58-year-old Frederick A. Mendoza of Tulsa, OK. Ford pulled into the driving lane and hit the rear of the vehicle’s trailer. Emergency crews were rushed to the scene to provide the necessary aid to the involved parties. Both Ford and his passenger, 18-year-old Gage L. Ojile of Arnold, MO, were transported by ambulance to Russell Regional Hospital for the treatment of sustained injuries. No further information on the incident is currently available. An ongoing investigation into the cause of the incident is in progress.
Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families at this time. We hope for their full recovery.
Semi-Truck Crashes in Kansas
Kansas’s highways and roads are filled with large commercial trucks. Every year, more than 500,000 major semi-truck crashes are reported on American roads, leaving over 5,000 people dead and countless more seriously injured. When fully loaded, a massive rig can weigh up to 70,000 pounds, and trucks pose a particular risk in collisions with passenger automobiles. Unfortunately, statistics show that most trucking accidents involve smaller cars. Truck drivers are typically at fault for these crashes because they make bad decisions that lead to catastrophic collisions as a result of pressure to put in long hours on the road. If you or a loved one is hurt in a trucking accident, you should be ready to pursue a claim for compensation with the help of a knowledgeable Russell semi-truck accident lawyer. The legal team at Bretz Injury Law is ready to fight for your full recovery. Give us a call today at 620-524-0080 to get started on your claim.
