Three accidents occurred within a day of each other in Atchison County recently and two of those only two minutes apart, keeping emergency crews busy.

The first wreck occurred at 3:47 p.m. on November 17, 2018, two miles north of Tarkio on Hwy. 59. A 2001 Pontiac Aztek, driven by Christina A. Tullis, 29, of Fairfax, Missouri, was traveling southbound on the highway when the Pontiac began sliding on the snow covered roadway. The vehicle slid off the west side of the road, impacting a MoDOT road sign and overturning. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels facing northeast. Tullis, who was not wearing a seat belt, received moderate injuries and was transported by Atchison-Holt ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri. A passenger, Ryan M. Lawhon, 30, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was also not wearing a seat belt and received minor injuries in the crash. He, too, was transported by Atchison-Holt ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. The 2001 Pontiac Aztek sustained extensive damage and was secured roadside. The accident was investigated by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper T.L. Shupe, who was assisted by the Tarkio Police Department, Atchison County Sheriff’s Department, and the Atchison-Holt Ambulance Service.

Just two minutes later, emergency crews were dispatched to another call on the other side of the county. At 3:49 p.m., a 2002 GMC van crashed on I-29 northbound at the 107 mile-marker, three miles south of Rock Port. The accident occurred as the van was headed northbound and began skidding. The van, driven by Mark A. Prior, 45, of Searcy, Arkansas, traveled off the east side of the road, struck a post, and began to overturn. The vehicle came to rest off the east side of I-29, on its passenger side. Prior, who was wearing a seat belt, received minor injuries and was transported to Community Hospital-Fairfax in Fairfax. The accident was investigated by Sgt. M.P. Quilty, who was assisted by the Atchison County Sheriff’s Department and the Rock Port Fire Department.

A third accident occurred the next morning at 8:40 a.m. on Hwy. 136, four miles east of Rock Port. A 2013 Hyundai Sonata, driven by Ashlee Layher, 19, of Troy, Missouri, was headed eastbound on Hwy. 136 when the vehicle traveled off the south side of the highway and struck a ditch and power pole. The vehicle came to rest off the south side of the road, facing southwest. Layher, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by private vehicle to Community Hospital-Fairfax. The accident was investigated by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper C.J. Blue, who was assisted by Trooper T.L. Shupe, and the Atchison County Sheriff’s Department.

The following weekend, emergency crews were back at it again. A huge snow storm/blizzard created a major headache for travelers making their way home from Thanksgiving festivities and caused several accidents and slide-offs around the state. On Sunday, November 25, a three-car accident occurred eight miles north of Rock Port on I-29. The accident took place at 8:09 a.m. as three vehicles headed northbound on the interstate. A 2000 Chevy Malibu, driven by Gary W. Frye, 65, of Falls City, Nebraska, slowed for traffic. A 2016 Nissan Rogue, driven by Lisa G. Johnson, 53, of Hickman, Nebraska, struck the Malibu in the rear. The Malibu spun around and was struck in the front by a 2012 Ford Edge, driven by Mickey D. Ardery, 64, of Norfolk, Nebraska. The Malibu came to rest in the passing lane facing north. The Rogue came to rest in the median, facing east. The Edge came to rest on the east side of the roadway facing west. The three drivers were all wearing their seat belts and no injuries were reported by them. A passenger in the Rogue, Linda J. Browman, 56, of Fairmont, Nebraska, who was wearing her seat belt, received serious injuries and was transported by Atchison-Holt EMS to Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, Iowa, and then on to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. All three vehicles were totaled and towed from the scene by Double M Towing of Rock Port. The accident was investigated by Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper C.J. Blue, who was assisted by the Rock Port Police Department and Atchison-Holt EMS.