(KNZA)--An early Sunday morning Brown County wreck claimed the life of a Hiawatha teenager and left four other Hiawatha teens injured.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says it happened around midnight at the intersection of U.S. 36 Highway and Horned Owl Road, west of Hiawatha.
Killed in the wreck was 16-year-old Ian Miller, who was a passenger in a Toyota Corolla driven by 17-year-old Andrew Kreek.
The Patrol reports Kreek was traveling northbound at a high rate of speed on Horned Owl Road when he lost control of his car. The vehicle left the roadway on the left side, traveled into a ditch and went airborne. The vehicle made one rotation across U.S. 36 before landing on its top in a ditch.
Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kreek and four other passengers were injured.
Kreek, 18-year-old Gabriel Corbett and 15-year-old Navaeh Dismang were all life-flighted to the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City with suspected serious injuries.
Another passenger, 19-year-old Andrew Timothy Woods, was transported to the Hiawatha Community Hospital with suspected minor injuries. He was treated and later released.
The Patrol says Woods was the only occupant wearing a seatbelt at the time of the wreck.
The Hiawatha School district issued the following statement Sunday:
The entire USD 415 Family is deeply saddened by the death of one of our students. We ask for your prayers and thoughts for the family of Ian Miller and for the other victims of this tragedy. Our staff is working to ensure all of our students have access to support during this difficult time. Hiawatha High School will be open from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. this evening. Counselors, social workers, administration, and community leaders will be available to our students and staff this evening and for the foreseeable future.
In addition, a Hiawatha High School play that had been scheduled for Sunday afternoon was cancelled.
Brown County Sheriff John Merchant posted the following message on Facebook:
We had a fatality accident in Brown County last night. Please keep everyone in your prayers and be respectful of the families and those involved.
Our emergency responders have a very difficult job and always go above and beyond to make it to the scenes and render aid without complaint. Regardless of the time of day, weather conditions or amount of time it takes to complete
In our rural community, we are truly blessed to have these dedicated volunteers responding.
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