Pursuit begins in city, ends in county
Steven R. Wornkey, Ellinwood, was arrested this weekend after a pursuit by the Barton County Sheriff’s Office. A BCSO deputy attempted to stop the Mitsubishi that Workney was driving after witnessing an alleged traffic infraction at about 8:50 a.m. Saturday at 11th and Morton in Great Bend. The deputy tried to pull in front of the car and reported Wornkey drove head-on at him.
Wornkey was reportedly pursued north out of Great Bend on Washington St., reaching speeds up to 80 mph. The car headed back toward Great Bend on U.S. 281. Stop sticks were used to deflate a tire, but the driver kept driving on the shredded tire. The Kansas Highway Patrol joined the response team and officers were reportedly ready at Great Bend with more tire spikes. However, Wornkey went to a ditch somewhere between 20 and 30 Road. Workney was booked into the Barton County Jail on charges of felony flee and elude, reckless driving, failure to stop at a stop sign and aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer. He was released after posting a $20,000 surety bond.
Injuries from rollover reportedly minor
A Great Bend man who rolled his car Sunday morning after swerving to miss a deer reportedly sustained minor injuries to his neck and mouth. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
According to the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Johsua Larry P. Ritter was traveling east on SE 20 Road at 6:30 a.m. Sunday in a Mitsubichi Galant. After swerving to miss a deer, his car went into the north ditch and completed a roll, coming to rest on its wheels in a cornfield. He was transported to Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend by Ellinwood Ambulance. Ellinwood Fire Department secured the vehicle at the scene.
Possible injury accident reported Friday
A car and a van carrying several unidentified passengers collided at NE 30 Road and North Washington Ave. at 3 p.m. Friday. Great Bend Ambulance responded for possible injuries.
The car was a Grand Am driven by Marieca Zimmer, who was making a left turn off NE 30 Road and stopped in the intersection when she noticed the van approaching on Washington was not getting stopped. The van was pulling a trailer and was driven by Mark Carnes. Upon impact the trailer disconnected from the van and rolled onto its side in the east ditch.
License tags stolen over weekend
Great Bend Police received three separate reports this past weekend of stolen vehicle tags.
A Great Bend resident reported someone taking the tag off his pickup and placing another tag in its place, Saturday morning in the 3200 block of 25th St.
A tag was stolen from a pickup parked in the 1800 block of Jackson St., it was reported Saturday afternoon.
Sunday morning, theft of a vehicle tag from a Madison Street address was reported, and the victim said another tag was put on the vehicle. The missing tag was found and a lack-of-prosecution case was filed.
