A rural Ellinwood man died Tuesday morning in a one-vehicle accident southeast of Great Bend, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir said.

The driver, identified as Michael T. Kern, 58, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Barton County Coroner Dr. E.L. Jones. He was the only occupant of the vehicle.

According to Bellendir, at about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Barton County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to SE 50 Road and SE20 Avenue to a reported motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they found a silver 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe which had overturned and came to rest on the driver side.

Investigation at the scene indicated Kern was eastbound on 50 Road and went off the roadway toward the south ditch. It appears he over corrected when he came back onto the roadway and the vehicle rolled one and a quarter times. 

As the vehicle rolled, the driver sustained fatal injuries, the sheriff said. The accident is under investigation by the BCSO.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by units from the Great Bend Fire Department and Emergency Services, the Barton County Highway Department as well as the Barton County corner.