BROWN COUNTY, KS — A fatal crash early Wednesday morning on US-36 highway near Hiawatha has left one person dead and another seriously injured, authorities said. The collision occurred around 5:59 a.m. just east of the junction with US-73 highway, approximately 70 miles northeast of Topeka.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported that a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, traveling west on US-36, crossed into the eastbound lane and side-swiped a 2011 Nissan Altima. The collision caused the Chevrolet pickup to veer into the south ditch, where it struck a Kansas Department of Transportation fence and came to a stop. Meanwhile, the Nissan Altima rotated counterclockwise off the south side of the road, coming to a rest in the ditch.
The driver of the Nissan, DeAndre Harris, 31, of Sabetha, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities noted that Harris was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The driver of the Chevrolet, Charles Hopp, 98, of Highland, was transported to University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., with serious injuries. The Highway Patrol confirmed that Hopp was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision.
Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles.
The crash led to the closure of US-36 between US-75 highway and the Brown-Doniphan county line as emergency crews responded. However, by 7:51 a.m., the highway was reopened with traffic being directed around the scene by the Kansas Department of Transportation.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and additional details are expected to be released later.