Fort Scott man injured in collision with semi-trailer on U.S. 69

A Fort Scott man was transported via medical helicopter to Joplin, Mo., following a two-vehicle accident Tuesday evening on U.S. Highway 69, Kansas Highway Patrol officials said.

Eddie Harrison, 38, of Fort Scott, was taken to Freeman Hospital after the 1991 Chevy pickup he was driving northbound on U.S. 69 drifted into the southbound lane and struck the driver's side of a 2007 Peterbilt semi-trailer that was headed south on the highway.

The crash took place just before 6 p.m. Tuesday at U.S. 69 milepost 56.7, or about four miles south of the U.S. 69 and Kansas Highway 7 junction, a KHP report said.

KHP Technical Trooper Rick Wingate said Wednesday that very little information about the accident was available as the report was not yet complete. He did confirm that Harrison was transported by medical helicopter. A Freeman Hospital spokeswoman said Harrison was in fair condition as of late Wednesday afternoon.

The KHP report said Harrison was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Michael Jones, 54, of Maryville, Mo., the driver of the semi, was also wearing a safety restraint and was not hurt in the collision. The pickup was removed from the scene.