Emergency crews work the scene of a two-vehicle accident Tuesday morning at the intersection of E.ast Chestnut and the U.S. 77 Bypass. (Photos by Brady Bauman)
Updated: 2:34 p.m.
ARKANSAS CITY — Authorities released more information about a two-vehicle accident that injured four Tuesday morning at the intersection of the U.S. 77 Bypass and East Chestnut in Ark City.
According to a news release from the ACPD Tuesday afternoon, officers observed a red 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, driven by Casiopia Price, 27, of Ark City, traveling eastbound on East Chestnut Avenue at the B Street intersection at 9:20 a.m. Tuesday.
Police learned Price was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and they attempted to conduct a traffic stop at 9:21 a.m. as both vehicles continued eastbound, approaching North D Street.
Price accelerated the pickup away from officers when they attempted to stop her for the violation. The truck continued to accelerate and failed to stop at the intersection of Chestnut and U.S. 77.
At 9:22 a.m., the truck entered the bypass intersection, where it was struck by an apparently northbound 2015 Chrysler Town and Country van. Both vehicles traveled through the intersection after the collision and came to a stop off the roadway, to the northeast of the intersection.
A utility pole was struck by one of the vehicles, causing a downed line on the U.S. 77 bypass, which was closed temporarily between Kansas and Madison avenues while emergency crews responded.
Price allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot. However, she was quickly taken into custody.
The Ark City Fire-EMS Department was dispatched to the scene to treat the injured parties.
The 46-year-old driver of the van was transported in stable condition to William Newton Hospital in Winfield.
A 37-year-old passenger in the van was transported by Fire-EMS in critical condition to SCK Medical Center and later flown to Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita for further treatment.
A 3-year-old passenger in the van was treated at SCK Medical Center and is listed as stable and in good condition. Price was listed as being in fair to critical condition after also being transported to SCK Medical Center.
The Kansas Highway Patrol is assisting ACPD with the investigation. Once it is complete, the police department will coordinate with the Cowley County Attorney’s Office on possible criminal charges.
Earlier:
ARKANSAS CITY — Three people were injured following a two-vehicle accident Tuesday morning at the intersection of the U.S. 77 Bypass and East Chestnut in Ark City.
According to Ark City Police Chief Eric Burr, police were pursuing a red pickup for a traffic violation on East Chestnut on the west side of the bypass.
Burr told KSOK-NewsCow at the scene of the accident the woman driving the pickup never pulled over and tried to escape authorities. Burr said officers felt the pursuit had become dangerous and called off the chase, but the woman kept up her speed.
Burr said the pickup blew through a stop sign at the bypass and struck a white van.
A child was inside the van but was in proper restraint, according to Burr, and suffered a few bumps and bruises. Two adults who were in the front of the van were transported away from the accident via ambulance. The woman in the pickup was also injured and transported via ambulance.
The ACPD, Ark City Fire-EMS, and Kansas Highway Patrol were first to respond.
More information will be added as soon as it becomes available.
