HODGEMAN COUNTY — Five people died as a result of a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Hodgeman County, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported.
According to the KHP crash log, the 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by Rony Baxter Martinez-Meneses, 48, Garden City, was eastbound on K-156, approximately 1.5 miles west of Hanston at approximately 1:11 p.m., when it left the roadway on the right, over-corrected and spun into the westbound 2023 Ford Ranger driven by Adam William Edwards, 45, Garden City.
Killed at the scene included four passengers in the Dakota: Brianna Mae Katherine Kauffman, 29; RaLeah May Kauffman, 3; Ryder Keith Kauffman, 7; and RyKer Kole Kauffman, 5; all of Garden City. Also killed was Edwards, the driver of the Ranger.
Martinez-Meneses was flown to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita with suspected serious injury. None of the occupants were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, the KHP reported.
K-156 was temporarily closed to traffic for approximately six hours following the crash and was opened at approximately 7 p.m. Thursday.