Stockton man killed in two-vehicle accident Wednesday morning

The community of Stockton was saddened to learn of a two-vehicle crash approximately 7:29 a.m. this Wednesday morning that claimed the life of a Stockton man and sent another to the hospital with suspected minor injury.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Braden Higdon, age 23, of Stockton, driving a 1997 Mazda pickup, was traveling eastbound on US Highway 24, approximately 9.4 miles east (milepost 158.8) of the US Highway 183-US Highway 24 junction in Stockton, when he approached a 2013 Ford pickup driven by Staci Ketelsen, age 41, of Stockton, also traveling eastbound on US Highway 24.

Ketelsen slowed down to turn right into her driveway and was rear-ended by Higdon. Ketelsen’s vehicle came to rest in the south ditch, while the vehicle driven by Higdon continued eastbound, entering the north ditch where it came to rest and caught fire.

The Mazda pickup Higdon was driving was destroyed by the fire and he was taken to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton. Ketelsen was transported to Rooks County Health Center in Plainville.

According to the report, it is unknown whether Higdon was wearing a seatbelt due to the vehicle catching fire. Ketelsen was properly restrained at the time of the accident.