RICE COUNTY — The Rice County sheriff believes tall corn is likely the blame for a fatal crash that killed a Sterling teenager. The two-vehicle crash occurred at Avenue U and 14th Road at 11:23 a.m. Wednesday.
Sterling’s Jacob Oden, 15, was ejected from a Dodge Dakota and killed in the accident after not wearing a seatbelt. Tom Kelly, 53, was airlifted to Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita for injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.
Sterling’s Jon Oden, 17, was driving a Dodge Dakota northbound on 14th Road. Jon Oden was treated and released at the Lyons District Hospital.
Kelly was driving a Nissan Maxima traveling westbound on Avenue U when it struck the passenger side of the Dodge Dakota four miles north of Sterling or five miles east of Alden.
Investigators report Avenue U and 14th Road is a blind intersection due to the height of corn.