Salina police Wednesday identified the victims of a Tuesday evening crash that killed one and injured four others.

Ruth E. McElfresh, 80, 730 Morningside, was killed in the crash. Jered S. Bean, 21, 2774 Berschel No. 207, was flown to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, where he was in critical condition Wednesday morning.

Capt. Mike Sweeney said Bean was driving a Ford Tempo south on South Ohio Street, north of Schilling Road, just before 5 p.m. Tuesday when he crossed the center line and hit, head-on, a Mercury Mariner sport utility vehicle.

The sport utility vehicle was driven by Melinda Howison, 54, 1212 Meyer. Ruth McElfresh was sitting on the left side of the back seat of the Mariner, Sweeney said.

Howison and two other passengers -- Marion L. McElfresh, 82, 730 Morningside, and Martha L. Sanders, 56, Tescott -- were taken to Salina Regional Health Center. Howison and Marion McElfresh were listed Wednesday morning in fair condition, and no information was being released on Sanders.

Sweeney said Bean was not wearing a seat belt, and all of the occupants of the sport utility vehicle were wearing seat belts.

Sweeney said the cause of the crash was still under investigation, but it appeared that neither alcohol use nor excessive speed was a factor.

The stretch of Ohio Street on which the crash occurred is two lanes. There are no shoulders to speak of, and there are deep ditches on both sides and trees near the road on the east side.

After the collision, the sport utility vehicle landed in the ditch on the east side.

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