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By TYLER GASKILL
Courier Staff Writer

A Udall firefighter directing traffic at two accidents north of Udall this morning was struck by a passing motorist.

Thomas Foster, 56, was transported to Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus in Wichita by Mulvane Emergency Medical Service, according to Cowley County Undersheriff Don Read. The firefighter was treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Foster was struck by a 1993 Ford Ranger, driven by David Gant, 24, Wichita, at 5:38 this morning.

At 5:20 a.m., Cowley County Sheriff's deputies received a report of an unknown accident at K-15 and First Road. The Udall and Winfield fire departments as well as Winfield Area Emergency Medical Service responded because they did not know if anyone had been injured.

Sheriff's deputies Sean Skov and John VanRoyen arrived to find two separate non-injury accidents.

A 1994 Buick Regal, driven by Thomas Lever, 52, Udall, and a 2007 Ford Focus, driven by Gennifer Melcher, 38, Udall, had hydroplaned and struck the bridge near the intersection. They had not struck each other.

The Udall Fire Department advised the Winfield Fire Department and Winfield EMS to disregard because there were no injuries, according to scanner traffic.

A Udall firefighter later called for the Winfield EMS unit to return to the scene, as a firefighter had been struck by a passing motorist, according to scanner traffic.