Three crashes in two days leave two injured, one airlifted in Atchison County

Three serious wrecks in about 24 hours gave Atchison County a sharp warning about how fast a routine drive can turn dangerous on its highways. Sheriff Jack Laurie said deputies and emergency crews handled three separate crashes Wednesday and Thursday that left three people injured, including two who were flown to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The most violent crash came around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday at U.S. Highway 73 and Osage Road. Laurie said a pickup driven by Cameron Mayer of Horton allegedly left its lane after passing traffic, overcorrected, crossed the highway, struck an eastbound van, went airborne across Osage Road, landed on its side and rolled twice. Mayer was ejected and flown by Lifestar with life-threatening injuries. Brandon Cummings of Effingham, who was in the van, was not hurt and refused treatment. Shannon Fire, Atchison County EMS and Rescue, and KDOT all assisted at the scene.

By midafternoon, another rollover had tied up traffic near Muscotah. Around 3 p.m. Wednesday, a semi negotiating a curve at U.S. Highway 159 and Edwards Road rolled onto its driver side after the trailer load allegedly shifted, according to Laurie. The driver, Curtis Simon Jr., was not reported injured. Even without a reported injury, the crash created the kind of roadside hazard that can shut down part of a rural highway, slow traffic and put responders in close quarters with a heavy commercial vehicle.

The third crash came early Thursday near U.S. Highway 73 and 222nd Road. Laurie said Jeffery Jewell of Atchison allegedly tried to pass a semi and struck a southbound car driven by Darrell Peak of Atchison. Peak was flown to KU Medical Center for treatment of possible serious injuries, while Jewell was taken to Amberwell for non-life-threatening injuries. Walnut Fire also responded.

Taken together, the crashes centered on the county’s major highway corridors and the split-second risks that come with passing maneuvers, curves and rural intersections. For drivers heading through Atchison County, the message from Wednesday and Thursday was plain: slow down, leave more room, and treat every pass on U.S. 73 and U.S. 159 as a decision with real consequences.