At 3:48 pm on July 21, a collision occurred on I-135 near the Assaria exit involving two vehicles and a wrecker. A vehicle experiencing a flat tire had prompted the wrecker to set up cones and close down the right lane.
Kylie Knouf, 18, of Thayer, Kansas, was driving a black 2017 Nissan Altima and was unable to move over due to heavy traffic. Her vehicle was rear-ended by a green 2009 Ford F250 driven by Mason Cousins, 16, of Brewster, Kansas. The impact caused Knouf's vehicle to veer off the road and collide with the wrecker, while the truck ended up in the east ditch.
Both Knouf and her passenger were trapped in the Nissan and were transported to Salina Regional Health Center with neck and back pain. The occupants of the Ford F250 were not injured. The driver of the truck was cited for following too closely, as his truck was traveling at highway speeds while Knouf's car was nearly stopped.
