Jaws of Life needed at collision

A semi headed east on US-56, just miles west of K-15, rear-ended a pickup truck at 5:43 p.m. Monday.

Zachary Wash, 16, McPherson, had slowed his 1997 Ford F-150 and pulled to the side of the road. Yandy Pinero, 35, Miami Plains, Florida, began to pass the pickup in his 2015 Peterbilt semi, when Wash merged back into traffic. Wash was attempting to make a left turn when Pinero collided with the pickup.

Wash got out of his pickup, but told responders he had a possible broken nose and bleeding. Erick Holness-Smith, 47, Austin, Texas, a passenger in the semi, exited safely. Responders had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate Pinero, whose leg was trapped in the cab. All three were taken to Hillsboro Community Hospital.

On the scene were Kansas Highway Patrol troopers, Hillsboro and Lehigh firefighters, and Marion and Hillsboro ambulances.