One killed in 3-vehicle crash Wednesday in Pawnee County

One person was killed in a three-vehicle crash Wednesday morning in south-central Kansas, authorities said.

The crash occurred at 7:10 a.m. abut 3 miles west of Rozel on K-156 highway in Pawnee County.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2006 Mercury car was westbound on K-156 and a 2014 Ford pickup truck was behind it when the Mercury crossed the center line and struck a 2017 Kenworth semitrailer.

The impact caused the semi to cross the center line and run head-on into the Ford truck.

The patrol said the Mercury came to rest on its wheels in the south ditch. The semi came to a stop in the north ditch on its driver’s side after it laid on its top, with the cab removed from the frame of the vehicle.

The Ford pickup came to rest on its driver’s side in the north ditch.

The patrol said the Ford’s driver, Michael E. Heim, 38, of Pratt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Mercury, Jacob A. Rives, 16, of Burdett, was taken to Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned for treatment of injuries.

The semi’s driver, Shane M . Edenfield, 48, of Sheldon, Iowa, also was injured. He was taken to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.

All three drivers were wearing seat belts and weren’t carrying passengers, the patrol said.