Four hurt in crash northwest of Wichita, reported gas leak

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — Four people were hospitalized with serious injuries following a two-vehicle crash Tuesday evening at the intersection of 29th Street North and 167th Street West. According to Brandon Stitt, Public Information Officer for the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened about 5:47 p.m. when a black pickup truck traveling westbound failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a southbound white Honda minivan. The impact of the collision also ruptured a gas line at the intersection. “The upper portion of it did rupture, and there was gas emitting into the air when the first units arrived on scene,” Stitt said. The driver of the pickup, a 74-year-old man, was the only occupant in his vehicle and was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The minivan was carrying a 46-year-old man and two children, ages 11 and 13. All three were also taken to the hospital with initially critical, but later upgraded, serious injuries. Emergency crews responded quickly. Firefighters were tasked with capping the gas leak, treating the injured, and extricating trapped occupants from the minivan. “The fire crews did a great job out here with all of the things that happened,” said Stitt. Deputies arriving on the scene also helped remove the elderly pickup driver from his vehicle and move him to safety. “The gentleman driving the pickup ran the stop sign or didn’t see the stop sign,” Stitt noted. The area was blocked off by the fire department due to the gas leak and the rural nature of the location, which made traffic redirection more difficult. Roads were closed at 37th and 167th, 21st and 167th, and further out near 151st along 29th. Black Hills Energy responded quickly to shut off the gas, and the leak no longer poses a threat. However, road closures remain in place to allow deputies time to conduct a thorough investigation, including taking scene measurements. “When you get a call like this initially, it sounds really bad — and for those involved, it is really bad,” Stitt said. “But we’re very thankful that what we initially thought were going to be critical injuries turned into serious injuries.”