Woman hospitalized after rear-end chain crash west of Hutchinson

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 16-year-old Hutchinson driver fled the scene Monday, April 6, after failing to stop for slowing traffic on Kansas Highway 14, triggering a chain-reaction crash that sent one person to the hospital, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

The three-vehicle crash occurred at 11:38 a.m. on K-14 northbound near milepost 102.6, approximately three miles west of Hutchinson in Reno County.

Troopers say all three vehicles were traveling north on K-14 when the lead vehicle, a 2018 Ford Transit 350 driven by William W. Plank, 63, of Hutchinson, stopped for traffic. The driver of a following 2023 Toyota RAV4, Larry R. Anderson, 69, of Nickerson, slowed to stop behind Plank's vehicle.

A 2012 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Aaden M. Vedder, 16, of Hutchinson, then failed to stop and struck the RAV4 from behind, forcing it into the Ford Transit 350.

Vedder left the scene following the collision, making the incident a hit-and-run. The crash is not connected to a police pursuit.

A passenger in Anderson's vehicle, Donna K. Givens, 66, of Nickerson, sustained a suspected minor injury and was transported to Hutchinson Regional Hospital. Anderson and Plank were each evaluated at the scene and reported no apparent injuries. Vedder also reported no apparent injury.

All parties were wearing safety restraints at the time of the crash.