Patches of ice on western Kansas highways led to at least three crashes that resulted in injuries or possible injuries Sunday, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported.

The first crash happened at 8:25 a.m. about a mile west of Goodland, in the eastbound lane of Interstate Highway 70. A sport utility vehicle with three adults and five children inside slid on ice into the south ditch and rolled once. The vehicle landed on its wheels.

The patrol reported the driver, Ronald W. Estrada, 28, of Inglewood, Calif., wasn’t hurt. He was wearing a seat belt.

Two passengers wearing seat belts — Flor Gallardo, 39, and Cruze Gallardo, 27, both of Inglewood — were taken to Goodland Regional Medical Center with injuries.

Three passengers restrained by seat belts or car seats were not injured. They were: Ronald Estrada, 5; Cindy Garcia, 10; and Betzy Estrada, 3, all of Inglewood.

Two child passengers not wearing seat belts were not injured — Ashley Estrada, 7, and Xochill N. Gallardo, 6, both of Inglewood. A crash also was reported by the patrol at 8:49 a.m. in Ellis County, about four miles east of Walker. A pickup truck was eastbound on I-70 when it hit an icy spot. The driver lost control of the pickup, which hit the guardrail and rolled. The driver, Donna Jean Rhoades, 48, of Lawrence, was alone in the vehicle and was wearing a seat belt. She was taken to Hays Medical Center with injuries.

A crash in Russell County happened at 9:20 a.m., in the northbound lane of U.S. Highway 281, about five miles north of Russell. A sport utility vehicle was crossing the Saline River bridge when the driver lost control of the vehicle at a patch of ice, the patrol reported. The vehicle struck the north end of the guardrail and came to rest on its wheels in the east ditch.

The driver, Theodore Gepner, 80, Russell, was wearing a seat belt and wasn’t hurt. A passenger, Carol L. Newman, 58, of Russell, was wearing a seat belt. She was taken to Russell Regional Hospital with a possible injury.

Hospital officials in Goodland, Hays and Russell would not provide any information Sunday about the condition of any of the crash victims.

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says....
Who doesn't put their kids in seat belts??? Kids should be in seat belts at ALL times and ESPECIALLY if the roads are bad!!! What is wrong with people????
10/11/2009

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