Robert M. McCollum and Alma J. Wright Obituary, Death – Tragic Head-On Collision Claims Two Lives, Leaves Three Injured in Clay County, Kansas
A devastating head-on collision occurred on Saturday afternoon in Clay County, Kansas, resulting in the tragic loss of two lives and leaving three others seriously injured. The incident took place on US-24 highway, approximately seven miles west of Clay Center, at around 3:55 p.m.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup truck, heading eastbound on US-24, veered across the center line for unknown reasons and collided head-on with a 2004 Toyota Sienna minivan traveling westbound. The impact of the crash caused the Ford pickup to come to a halt in the north ditch facing north, while the Toyota minivan ended up on its passenger side in the south ditch, facing west.
Sadly, two passengers in the Toyota, identified as 72-year-old Robert M. McCollum and 79-year-old Alma J. Wright, both from Gardner, Kansas, were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither of them was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Three others were seriously injured in the accident, including Sharmen S. McCollum, a 55-year-old woman from Gardner, who was also a passenger in the Toyota. She was taken to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for treatment. The crash report did not specify whether she was wearing a seatbelt.
Another passenger, identified as 80-year-old Gary W. Wright, also from Gardner, was seriously injured and transported to Stormont Vail Hospital. The crash log did not indicate whether he had been wearing a seatbelt either.
The driver of the Toyota, 47-year-old Jonathan L. Wright from Shawnee, was not injured in the crash. The Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed that he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.
Richard T. Jackson, the 18-year-old driver of the Ford Ranger, who was from Clay Center, sustained serious injuries and was taken to Salina Regional Health Center. Jackson was the sole occupant of the Ford truck and had been wearing his seatbelt during the crash.
The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing as authorities continue to gather more details. The tragic loss of Robert M. McCollum and Alma J. Wright has left their loved ones and community in shock, and their deaths serve as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for vigilance on our highways.
As the community comes together to support the families of the victims, the incident also raises concerns about the importance of wearing seatbelts and the devastating consequences of accidents. The investigation continues, and authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to the crash.
In the wake of this tragedy, it is essential to remember the importance of responsible driving and the devastating consequences of accidents. Robert M. McCollum and Alma J. Wright’s deaths are a heartbreaking reminder of the need for continued efforts to improve road safety and prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
