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Photo by Donita Clausen click image to enlarge

By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

One driver died from injuries sustained in a collision of two tractor-trailers early today on Interstate 35 just south of U.S. 166. Three others were injured in the accident, one critically.

The collision occurred about 5 a.m. after the driver of one of the rigs entered the northbound lanes of I-35 heading south. The driver pulled to the inside shoulder of the interstate, apparently realizing he was going the wrong way, and was trying to make a U-turn when the other truck struck the first vehicle's tractor, a dispatcher with the Kansas Turnpike Authority said.

The driver and passenger of the rig heading the right way were air-lifted from the scene in critical condition to Via Christi Medical Center-St. Francis Campus, in Wichita. The driver later died at the hospital, the dispatcher said.

The driver who died was identified as Corinne Bartels, 64, of Platteville, Wisc. Her passenger, who remained in the hospital in critical condition, was identified as Jim Beals, 49, also of Platteville.

The other victims, the driver and passenger of the vehicle attempting to make the U-turn, were taken to Sumner County Regional Medical Center, where they were being treated for injuries this morning.

The driver was identified as Steven, Helinsky, 39, of Wilmer, Texas. He sustained eye and facial injuries, the dispatcher said. His passenger was identified as Terence Smith, 44, of Kerens, Texas, who suffered back pain and neck pain.

The northbound lanes near the accident scene were closed all morning. Northbound drivers were diverted off the interstate at Braman, Okla., onto U.S. 81.

At 8:30 a.m., northbound traffic on I-35 was backed up more than a mile south of the accident scene. Wreckage from the accident was handled by Strickland Road Service, of South Haven.

Above: Northbound lanes of Interstate 35 just south of U.S. 166 were closed all morning after two tractor-trailers collided about 5 a.m. One driver died from injuries sustained in the crash, while another passenger in the truck was critically injured. The driver and passenger in the second truck were taken to a Wellington hospital.