Crash in Garden City Sends Teen Driver and Three Children to Hospital

by Derek White

A Wednesday morning collision involving a passenger car and a semi-truck in Garden City left four people injured—two teens and two young children—according to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP).

The crash occurred around 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Campus Drive. Authorities report that a Chrysler Sebring, driven by a 16-year-old girl from Holcomb, was traveling north on Campus Drive when it attempted to make a left turn onto westbound U.S. 50. At the same time, an eastbound tractor-trailer was approaching the intersection.

The semi driver, a 42-year-old man from Lubbock, Texas, began braking approximately 110 feet before the intersection, but the vehicles collided in the eastbound lane.

The teenage driver and her 13-year-old front seat passenger sustained minor injuries. However, the situation was more serious for the two young children riding in the back seat—a 2-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy—who were reportedly not restrained. Both children suffered potentially serious injuries and, along with the two teens, were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The semi driver was uninjured. Technical Trooper Anthony Calderon confirmed that the truck had the right-of-way at the time of the crash.

The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of proper child restraint use in vehicles. Kansas law requires all children under the age of 8 to be properly secured in a child safety seat or booster, and those under 4 must be in a federally approved child restraint system.

Investigators have not released additional details, but the crash remains under review by the Kansas Highway Patrol.