Fort Scott man involved in U.S. 69 accident

A Fort Scott man was among several people who were transported to hospitals following a Wednesday morning crash north of Frontenac that involved multiple vehicles.

The crash took place about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday at the junction of U.S. Highway 69 and U.S. Highway 160 one mile north of Frontenac.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol report, three vehicles, a 2013 Ford passenger car, a 1993 Ford passenger car and a 2014 Freightliner semi-trailer, were southbound on U.S. 69 and stopped at the red light at the U.S. 160 junction. A 1999 Kenworth semi-trailer, driven by Eric Lee Christopher, 30, of Red Oak, Okla., struck three vehicles, a 2007 Ford passenger car, the 2013 Ford and the 1993 Ford in the rear.

The collision caused the 2007 Ford to strike the 2014 Freightliner semi in the rear. The Kenworth semi made a hard left turn, struck a 1998 Ford straight truck in the northbound lane of U.S. 69, turning the Ford truck over onto its passenger side, the KHP report said.

The driver of the 2007 Ford was April Dawn Semrad, 34, of Galesburg. She was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The KHP report said she was transported to Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Mo., with disabling injuries. Others listed as occupants of the vehicle were Trudy L. Richwine, 44, of Erie, who was also sent to Freeman Hospital with disabling injuries, and Semrad's son, Avery Semrad, age not listed, who was sent to Children's Mercy in Kansas City, Mo., with disabling injuries.

The KHP report said Richwine and Avery Semrad were also wearing a safety restraint at the time of the crash.

According to a KOAM-TV report of the crash, April Semrad is the principal of Erie Elementary School. She and her son were headed to a Special Olympics event at Pittsburg State University. The two were in critical condition as of Thursday. Richwine was in serious condition as of Thursday.

The driver of the 2013 Ford was Deanna Jean Garrett, 30, of Pittsburg. The KHP report said it is not known if she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. She was also transported to Freeman Hospital in Joplin for injuries. The KOAM-TV report said Garrett was also in critical condition as of Thursday.

A 53-year-old Fort Scott man, Douglas Alan Simpson, who was driving the 1993 Ford, was also listed as being injured in the crash. The KHP report said it is not known if he was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. He was taken to Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. The KOAM-TV report said Simpson was treated and released.

The driver of the 1998 straight-line truck was Kevin Todd Graham, 49, of Webb City, Mo. The KHP report said he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was also transported to Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. The KOAM-TV said Graham was listed in fair condition as of Thursday.

Sammy Lee Stoots, 47, of Jay, Okla., was the driver of the 2014 semi. The KHP report said he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was not listed as injured.

Christopher was not injured in the crash. The KHP report said it is not known if he was wearing a seat belt.

The section of U.S. 69 where the crash took place was closed for eight hours. The KHP report indicated that all vehicles except for the 2014 semi were towed from the scene. The crash is still being investigated as of Thursday.