Heights mourns deaths
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 01:22 p.m., September 9, 2010
Updated 01:22 p.m., September 9, 2010
Counseling services are in place at Northern Heights High School and North Lyon County Middle School following a fatal crash that killed two students of Northern Heights Wednesday afternoon.
“We are deeply sorrowed by this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the parents and family of our lost and injured students,” said Mike Nulton, superintendent of North Lyon County. “The loss of two of our Northern Heights family comes as a great shock. The North Lyon County school district is providing appropriate services to assist our students and staff through this difficult time.”
Nulton said the goal is to help the students process through the loss and regain a sense of normalcy.
“That’s the best therapy to get kids moving forward,” he said this morning. “We have counselors from around the area that have come into both our high school and middle schools to help visit with kids.”
The two-vehicle accident happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, killing two high school students and injuring four others, including two other students.
The accident happened three miles north of Americus on Americus Road.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, 17-year-old Joanna Posey of Americus was driving southbound just north of Road 270 in a 1996 Toyota Corolla when it drifted off the right side or west edge of the road.
At the same time, 80-year-old Andrew Blythe of Council Grove was driving north on Americus Road in a 2000 GMC pickup truck. He was the only one of the six people in the accident who was wearing a seat belt.
After drifting off the road, Posey tried to steer back onto the road and overcorrected, according to the KHP report. She then steered back to the right and began sliding, which took her car into the path of the truck.
The truck struck the car in the left rear corner.
Posey was declared dead at the scene. She was a senior at Northern Heights High School.
Three passengers in her vehicle were taken to hospitals.
Leonard Brown, 16, of Americus was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital. Warren Ruhl and Kasidy Hart, both 16 and of Americus, were taken to Newman Regional Health in Emporia.
Kasidy died at the hospital just before 6 p.m. She was a junior at Heights.
Warren is a junior and Leonard is a sophomore at Heights.
Both the truck driver Blythe and his passenger, 42-year-old Sherri Henson of Council Grove, also were taken to Newman. Warren and Blythe were treated and released, according to Newman officials. Henson was in stable condition late Wednesday.
No information was available from KU Hospital by press time this morning.
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