Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir reports two vehicles collided shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday on K-96 near NW 30 Ave., resulting in the death of a Great Bend man.

Mark DeWald, 72, was pronounced dead at the school by the Barton County Coroner’s Office. The other driver, Luke Krehbiel, 17, of Timken, was transported to the University of Kansas Health System Great Bend campus with minor injuries.

According to reports, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a motor vehicle accident on K-96, approximately 3 miles northwest of Great Bend, at 8:56 p.m.

Investigation at the scene indicates that a 2016 Ford Fusion operated by DeWald was eastbound on K-96 when it crossed left of center, striking a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup operated by Krehbiel. The vehicles collided head-on in the westbound lane. The Dodge truck initially caught fire after the collision but was quickly extinguished by the Great Bend Fire Department.

The Sheriff’s Office suspects DeWald may have had a medical incident prior to the collision, causing him to cross the center line. The accident is still under investigation.