Icy Barton County Crash Injures Two

The Barton County Sheriff's Office was kept busy Monday afternoon with numerous slide offs and motor vehicle accidents as dangerous ice and snow moved into the county.

According to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir, by about 4 PM, all road surfaces in Barton County were 100 percent snowpacked with either ice or snow.

Sheriff's deputies responded to six vehicles that had slid off the roadway that needed assistance and three motor vehicle accidents due to the adverse conditions. Two of the accidents were property damage only and a third accident resulted in two injured said Bellendir.

At about 5:20 PM Monday, the Barton County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a reported injury accident just west of Hoisington at the curves on US Highway 281. A 2020 Dodge Journey operated by 69-year-old Barry Morris of Pratt was southbound on US Highway 281 when he failed to negotiate the curve. The vehicle entered the ditch, crossed over the median, struck an embankment on Northwest 110th Road, vaulted over the road and came to rest on the south side. Morris and a passenger identified as 66-year-old Manell Morris of Pratt were both transported to Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington with non-life-threatening injuries. The Barton County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by Hoisington EMS and the Hoisington Fire Department.

(Information and photo courtesy Barton County Sheriff's Office.)