Accidents due to icy roads continue into Wednesday

Mound City resident, 21-year-old Charley Cole's 1993 Ford Explorer lays on it's driver's side door Wednesday morning about, 1/3 mile south of K-31 on U.S. 69 highway, following a single-vehicle accident in which he reportedly lost control on ice covered roads. This was one of three accidents within a two-hour timeframe Wednesday. -- Rayma Silvers/Tribune Photo [Click to enlarge]

Even as road conditions improved Wednesday, icy conditions have been listed as a contributing factor in at least three area accidents.

Kansas Highway Patrol was first called to the scene of an accident which occurred at 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of 85th Street and Maple Road.

The highway patrol reported a three-car collision in which five occupants received injuries. According to the highway patrol's report, Melinda Dillow, 35, Mapleton, driving a 1993 GMC pickup truck northbound on 85th St., slid through a stop sign at the intersection striking Jeff Tinsley, 47, Uniontown, who was traveling east on Maple Rd., in his 1991 Chevrolet Geo. Following this collision, Katheryn Reed, 55, Fort Scott, struck Dillow's vehicle with her 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, according to the report.

Dillow's two young children, 13 and 14 years old, were in her vehicle at the time of the accident. Everyone involved was transported to Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott for undisclosed injuries. Dillow was the only involved party reportedly not wearing a safety constraint.

Less than 15 minutes later, the highway patrol was called to U.S. Highway 69, about six miles north of Fort Scott, for a single-vehicle collision. According to the highway patrol's report, Meraz Ernesto, 31, Wichita, was traveling northbound at an excessive speed for road conditions and lost control of his 1999 Pontiac CV. The vehicle reportedly struck the highway's east ditch causing significant damage to the car's front end. Meraz was traveling with Albert Meraz, 37, Wichita, at the time of the accident. Both parties were reported to be wearing seat belts and wear transported to Mercy Health Center for possible injuries.

At about 9 a.m., highway patrol personnel were back out on U.S. 69, this time about 1/3 mile south of Kansas State Highway 31 for a single-vehicle rollover accident.

Highway patrol reported Charley Cole, 21, Mound City, was traveling south on U.S. 69 when he lost control on an ice covered portion of the road, struck the highway's median and rolled onto the driver's side of his 1993 Ford Explorer.

Cole was reportedly wearing his safety belt and was transported to Mercy Health Center for possible injuries.