RUSSELL COUNTY — One person died in fatal accident in Russell County on U.S. 281 at 7:10 a.m. on Thursday, April 28.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Bryan Hladik, 19, of Enid Okla. was southbound on U.S. 281. A 2011 Chevy pickup driven by Shawn Ernst, 38, of Byers was northbound on U.S. 281.
Hladik vehicle went left of center and struck the Ernst vehicle, which entered the east ditch and rolled two times coming to rest on its wheels facing west.
The car spun around and stopped on the roadway facing west.
Hladik and the front seat passenger Larry Bell, 18, of Enid Okla., received injuries. Hladik was taken to Wesley Medical Center and Bell was taken to Russell County Regional Hospital.
David Devereaux, the passenger in the rear seat of the 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, was life flighted to Via-Christi in Wichita and died of his injuries.
Devereaux was not wearing his seat belt. The driver and the front seat passenger were both wearing their seat belt.
The occupants in the 2011 Chevy pickup, Ernst and his passenger Clarence Messick, 54, of St. John were injured in the accident. Ernst was taken to Salina Regional Hospital and Messick was taken to Russell County Regional Hospital. They both were wearing seat belts.