US-56/K-256 crash leaves 3 dead, 1 seriously hurt

Three people are dead and one other hospitalized after a two-vehicle accident at 1:28 p.m. Friday at the US-56 and K-256 junction northwest of Marion.

Wanda L. Richmond, 85, Marion, died when a westbound 2016 Ford Taurus in which she a passenger broadsided a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan that had pulled in front of the Taurus on US-56 from a stop sign on K-256.

Another passenger in the Taurus — Richmond’s daughter-in-law, Ramona Richmond, 58, Salina — suffered what were characterized as serious injuries.

She was taken to St. Luke Hospital, Marion, by Marion ambulance. A helicopter later airlifted a patient from St. Luke to Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.

The Taurus’s driver — Wanda Richmond’s granddaughter, Rebecca R. Young, 36, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma — had minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital, according to Kansas Highway Patrol.

The Dodge’s driver, Charlotte S. Cole, 52, Moundridge, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her passenger, Jessica D. Schmidt, 19, Fruitland, Idaho, died soon afterward at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, where she was taken by Hillsboro ambulance.

When the Taurus hit the passenger side of the Grand Caravan, the impact drove both vehicles into a north ditch on US-56 and trapped at least two occupants in the wreckage.

Marion and Hillsboro rescue squads extricated the victims and remained at the scene until 4:15 p.m.