Kansas Klips

Man killed when riding mower overturned

WICHITA — Wichita police say a man died last Wednesday afternoon after becoming pinned under water by an overturned riding lawn mower. Juan Salazar, 42, who was employed by a lawn service, was mowing grass along the banks of a neighborhood pond when the lawnmower slipped off the embankment and rolled, trapping Salazar under the water. Coworkers and nearby residents pulled Salazar from the pond and began life-saving measures until fire and EMS personnel arrived. Upon arrival, officers located Salazar in critical condition. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries on the scene. (KWCH-12 News)

Two men, 10-year-old girl killed in crash

SALINA — A vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and killed three people eight miles south of Salina on Sunday, May 30. A Silverado pickup was traveling north on I-135 when it crossed the median and continued onto the southbound side of I-135 where it hit a Dodge Ram pickup, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. Christopher Lee Giroux, 24, was driving the Silverado and died at the scene. Phillip Ray Hett, 39, who was driving the Ram, and Abigail Hett, 10, his passenger, both died. Jillian Hett, a 12-year-old occupant, was taken to the hospital in Salina. (Salina Journal)

Man whose head was crushed while changing tire on K-10 remains in ICU

MANHATTAN — A GoFundMe for an Alma man that was injured while attempting to change a tire on his trailer near Eudora has already reached $10,000 above its goal, less than a day after the page was created. On May 28, Jeff Eckelberry and his wife Joyce were headed to the Grand Canyon when a tire on their camper blew out just outside of Eudora on K-10. While changing the tire, the trailer fell off its jack and landed on Eckelberry’s head and shoulder area, pinning him underneath. Emergency personnel quickly arrived on the scene and lifted the trailer, pulling Eckelberry from underneath. He was then rushed to the Overland Park Medical Center Trauma Center. Eckelberry’s facial bones were pulverized, he had a small bleed in his brain and a broken arm. The brain bleed was not large enough to require immediate surgical attention. After four days in the ICU, facial reconstruction surgery was performed on Eckelberry, which required plates, rods and screws to reconfigure his facial structure. (KWCH-12 News)

Lyons man dies in house explosion

LYONS — Authorities investigating a fatal home explosion and fire in Lyons have identified the victim as 65-year-old Terry Sawyers, according to Fire Chief Brad Reid. Just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27, firefighters responded to a home in Lyons. Upon arrival crews were able to control the fire but not able to enter the home. Firefighters later located Sawyers who died from injuries. Sawyers had lived at the location for approximately 10 to 12 years, according to Reid. The cause of the explosion is still undetermined. (HaysPost.com)

Man’s body recovered from Tuttle Creek Lake

RILEY COUNTY — A Manhattan man’s body was recovered late Wednesday night from Tuttle Creek Lake after emergency response teams searched for nearly 10 hours. Just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2nd, the Riley County Police Department Dispatch Center received a call from a citizen reporting a vehicle and clothes near a shoreline of the lake in Riley County, according to a media release from RCPD. When emergency crews responded they located identifying information for a 24-year-old Manhattan man, but were unable to locate an individual. Numerous agencies responded to assist in a search. Emergency response teams located a body just before midnight. The man’s name will be released pending next of kin notifications. (HaysPost.com)

Large quantity of hand sanitizer dumped in Salina high school

SALINA — Surveillance video is being reviewed after someone dumped a large amount of hand sanitizer on the walls and floors of Salina High School South. A staff member at Salina South reported that someone had taken a large container of hand sanitizer and roamed the halls, dumping the sanitizer on the walls and floor, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. The sanitizer ate through the finish on the floor. Total damage was estimated at $7,250. The incident is believed to have occurred between 8:40 - 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2nd, according to police. (Salina Journal)

Semi driver cited in crash that killed motorcycle rider

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have identified the man killed in a motorcycle, tractor-trailer crash early Friday morning west of Solomon as Jesus Martinez, 29, of Salina.

Just before 6:30 a.m., a 2022 Volvo tractor pulling a 53-foot trailer and belonging to Great Plains Trucking was westbound on Old Highway 40, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. The driver, Patrick Heer, 39, of Minneapolis, was attempting to make a left turn onto North Donmyer Road and did not see an eastbound 2003 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Martinez until he was into the turn. Heer told deputies that there was glare in the mirror from the sun. Martinez was not able to stop in time. The motorcycle struck the rear of the tractor and was destroyed, according to Soldan. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene. Heer was cited for failure to yield when making a left turn, according to Soldan. (Salina Journal)

Teen drowned in apartment complex lake

WICHITA — Police say a teenager has drowned in a lake on a Wichita apartment complex grounds. Authorities say the drowning happened around 2 p.m. Sunday when emergency crews were called to the Kingston Cove apartments in south-central Wichita. Officials say the teen was with a group of friends swimming in the lake when he went under the water and did not resurface. The teen’s friends tried to rescue him, and several onlookers jumped in the water to try to help, but could not find him. First responders called to the scene found the teen within 30 minutes and pulled him from the water, but were unable to revive him. His name was not immediately released. (KWCH)