Two individuals, one of whom was a child, lost their lives in a tragic two-vehicle collision that occurred in the early hours of Thursday on Interstate 35 in south-central Kansas. Additionally, seven other individuals sustained injuries in the accident, according to authorities.
A crash occurred at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday on I-35 along the Kansas Turnpike, approximately 5 miles west of Mulvane. The incident took place around 10 miles south of Wichita.
A 2020 Chevrolet Express van, which was being pulled, overturned in the southbound lanes of I-35, as per the Kansas Highway Patrol’s online crash log. In an effort to avoid the van, a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee, also traveling southbound on I-35, collided with it.
According to the patrol, the crash claimed the lives of two individuals who were traveling in the van.
Ernestina Eumana-Alvarez, aged 58, and Christian Gutierrez, a child whose exact age is not known, both from Minneapolis, Minn., were the individuals who were identified.
According to the patrol, Eumana-Alvarez was wearing her seat belt, while Gutierrez was not.
The occupants of the van also sustained injuries, and they have been identified as:
Tiburcio Gonzalez, 55, from Circle Pines, Minnesota, was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita with serious injuries. According to the patrol, Gonzalez had his seat belt on.
Ines Benitez-Miranda, a 67-year-old individual from an undisclosed city, was taken to Ascension Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital in Wichita due to significant injuries. The authorities reported that Benitez-Miranda had properly fastened her seat belt.
Roberto Cuate, a 47-year-old resident of Richfield, Minnesota, was transported to Wesley Medical Center after sustaining serious injuries. According to the patrol, Cuate had his seat belt on at the time of the incident.
Rosa Gutierrez, a 27-year-old resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was transported to Wesley Medical Center after sustaining serious injuries. It is important to note that Gutierrez was wearing her seat belt at the time of the incident.
Roberto Gutierrez-Quintero, a 63-year-old resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was transported to Wesley Medical Center after sustaining serious injuries. Fortunately, the patrol reported that Gutierrez-Quintero had been wearing his seat belt at the time of the incident.
Reya Linares De Cuate, a 64-year-old resident of Richfield, Minnesota, was transported to Wesley Medical Center for evaluation due to potential minor injuries.
Santiago Gutierrez, a 1-year-old boy from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was transported to Wesley Medical Center after sustaining what are believed to be minor injuries. According to the patrol, Gutierrez was properly secured in his safety restraint at the time of the incident.
The driver of the Jeep, Michael Keefer, 63, from Rose Hill, and a passenger, sustained what is believed to be minor injuries. There is no information suggesting that Keefer was taken to the hospital. According to the patrol, Keefer was wearing his seat belt.
Frederick Rodriguez, a 61-year-old resident of Idabel, Oklahoma, was a passenger in the Jeep during the incident. He was taken to Rock Regional Hospital in Derby, as a precaution, due to suspected minor injuries. According to the patrol, Rodriguez was wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident.
Andie Keefer, 23, from Rose Hill, was the third occupant of the Jeep. Although she was suspected to have minor injuries, there is no information about her being taken to the hospital. The patrol confirmed that Keefer was wearing her seat belt.
