A four-vehicle injury accident occurred Sunday afternoon when a motorist noticed a spider on her lap and lost control of a car on U.S. 56, a mile east of Great Bend.
Kansas Highway Patrol reports that at 1:36 p.m., Diana Nicole Bell, 17, from Claflin, was driving east when she noticed the spider, let go of the steering wheel and started swatting it. The 2003 Pontiac Gran Am she was driving crossed the center line and struck a 2005 Jeep Liberty head-on. The Jeep bounced off the first car and struck an eastbound 2005 Dodge Caravan head-on, and the debris from the second collision struck a 2010 Chevy Impala which was damaged but otherwise not involved in the accident.
All occupants of the first three vehicles were transported to Great Bend Regional Hospital by EMS and treated for their injuries.
The Jeep was driven by Felix Perez, 62, of Liberal. His passengers were Patricia Roldan-Perez, 56; David Perez, 15; and Edith Rivera-Perz, 3.
The Dodge Caravan was driven by Charleeann Dailing, 33, of Satanta. Her passengers were Jerod William Dailing, 36, of Nickerson; and children Ethan Witthuhn, 9, Julieann Dailing, 3, Tahjay Harrison, 5, and Amy Cole, 7, all of Hutchinson.
The non-contact vehicle was driven by Dean C. Bell, 53, of Lansing. Victor Oberle, 86, of Claflin, was a passenger. They were not injured.
The Caravan was removed by Doonan’s, the Grand Am was removed by Marshall’s and the Jeep was removed by Marmie’s.
Traffic on U.S. 56 east of Great Bend was rerouted for a time at the U.S. 156 junction, where vehicles detoured to East Barton County Road.
Everyone involved was wearing a seat belt or safety restraint.