Gordon L. Zahradnik, 80, and Rae Vivian Zahradnik, 78, both of Lyons, died in a two vehicle wreck that occurred at 2:22 p.m. Tuesday one and one-half miles east of Claflin.
Gordon was driving a 2008 Buick Lucerne and merging onto K-156 eastbound from K4. He attempted to make a u-turn in the path of a 2001 Kenworth Semi and a Fontaine trailer driven by Melody Dawn Bole, 50, of  Casey, Iowa, who was heading eastbound on K-156. The Buick then entered the north ditch and went down an embankment, coming to rest in a ditch, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log.
Both were transported to Great Bend Regional Hospital where they both passed away Tuesday afternoon. Neither of the Zahradniks was wearing a seatbelt.
Bole, who was wearing a seatbelt, received no injuries.